Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor John Goodwin, Councilmember and current Mayor of the Town of Colma, upon his retirement after 35 years of serving the public.

Mr. Goodwin was born in a small community near Denver, Colorado, in 1960. His love of the outdoors and passion for serving others led him to begin his career as a National Park Service law enforcement ranger. For 27 years, Mr. Goodwin worked in National Parks across the continental United States, traveling from the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, to Mount Rainier in Washington State, to the Everglades in Florida, and finally to Golden Gate National Recreation Area in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Mr. Goodwin's extensive career as a National Park Service ranger is emblematic of his commitment to helping others. He put his life on the line numerous times, saving many others in the process as well as nearly losing his own from two devastating lightning strikes. Mr. Goodwin endured the physical and mental costs of the dangers of his career, including a decade-long battle with post-traumatic stress disorder. However, with the help of his family and friends, Mr. Goodwin persevered, seeking treatment at the West Coast Post Trauma Retreat and continuing his mission to help others. He later documented many of his unforgettable stories in his memoir ``Echoes of the Badge: Stories from a National Park Service Career'' where he poignantly shared the joys and tribulations of his 27 years as a ranger.

In 2016, after retiring from the National Park Service, Mr. Goodwin decided to continue his career of public service by successfully running for an elected seat on Town of Colma City Council. Referred to as the ``City of Souls,'' this small community just south of San Francisco is unique in that much of its land is dominated by cemeteries--the population of the dead is speculated to outnumber the living by a ratio of one thousand to one. During his tenure as a councilmember, Mr. Goodwin embarked on numerous initiatives to cultivate the vitality of the town. He pushed for increased multi- cultural recreation events, supported public art projects, championed flag-raisings to honor the diversity of the town's residents, and offered his unwavering support for local businesses. He additionally welcomed Colma's Veteran's Village with open arms, providing 65 units of housing for formerly homeless veterans and their families. Mr. Goodwin served as Mayor of Colma in 2020, where he worked tirelessly to protect his constituents and the town's local businesses during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, he again took office as Mayor, serving the town on the 100th anniversary of the town's incorporation.

Mr. Goodwin has also demonstrated exemplary community service outside of his official leadership positions in Colma. He has volunteered and raised thousands of dollars for various mental illness and veteran support organizations, including the Wounded Warrior Project, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and for 9/11 survivors.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in honoring the extraordinary service to the public that John Goodwin has presented over his 35-year career. All of the lives that he has touched are better off through his dedication and commitment.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

My California congressional district sits on the San Francisco peninsula and is home to a vibrant innovation economy that supports every sector of American industry.

The leading-edge technologies being developed and improved in the bay area have the potential to help keep the rest of California and our Western States safe from the risk of wildfire.

My amendment today seeks to ensure that we are using the best technologies available to understand wildfire risk. Artificial intelligence, with its potential to analyze large datasets and improve predictive models, can and should play an important role in informing land management decisions.

These data tools will be vital for enabling the proposed Fireshed Center in the Fix Our Forests Act. This should be an easy vote for those who support using the best available technologies to protect communities and inform land management activities.

Mr. Chair, I urge the adoption of my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Mahsa Amini on the second anniversary of her heinous murder. I join people around the world in remembering her life and legacy for the Iranian people.

Mahsa Amini was devoted to her family; especially her parents and younger brother. From a young age she felt a call to service and set her sights on entering medicine to help keep her community safe. Tragically, this

dream was cut short when the Iranian Regime's morality police arrested, beat, and murdered Ms. Amini over an alleged dress code violation.

Yet, in the aftermath of her death; the world witnessed firsthand that Ms. Amini's story would not be defined by that horrible day. Her sacrifice galvanized hundreds of thousands of Iranians to stand up to the Iranian government's draconian oppression of its people, particularly its treatment of women. The Iranian people refused to be silent and formed the Woman, Life, Freedom movement as a powerful force for change. For weeks, thousands of protestors risked and lost their lives to bring justice for Ms. Amini and freedom for Iran. I am confident that Ms. Amini's memory and the Woman, Life, Freedom movement will not fade but serve as an enduring symbol of the Iranian people's struggle for freedom and equality.

The United States has an obligation to advocate for women like Ms. Amini, whose voices are too often marginalized. We must forcefully oppose human rights abuses and gender-based subjugation, wherever it occurs. This is the only way to properly honor the memory of the valiant individuals who have lost their lives in service of a better future.

Today, as we honor Mahsa Amini's life and legacy, we should also recognize the Iranian people's fortitude and perseverance. Despite heartbreaking setbacks and daunting odds, they are working to chart a new course for their country. I, alongside many of my Congressional colleagues, stand with the Iranian people in their fight for freedom, self-determination, and a democratic society.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Town of Colma and join in celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the town's incorporation, and its unique history and significance to my district.

Nestled in the north of San Mateo County, California, Colma is the smallest incorporated community by living population in the county that has a remarkable story to tell. As a San Mateo County native, I'm very familiar with Colma and its fame as a necropolis. Referred to as the ``City of Souls,'' Colma has approximately 1,500 residents but over 1.5 million graves, brandishing the motto ``It's great to be alive in Colma.'' In the early 1900's, San Francisco was growing and developing at a rapid pace, and areas and space for burials became scarce. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors prohibited new burials within city limits, prompting cemeteries to relocate to the more spacious and convenient surroundings of Colma.

Today, Colma boasts 17 cemeteries altogether, including a pet cemetery. This astonishing number of remains includes notable figures such as Levi Strauss, the founder of the namesake blue jean company, Wyatt Earp, the infamous lawman of the Wild West, Joe DiMaggio and Willie McCovey, legendary baseball players, William Randolph Hearst, newspaper tycoon, Bill Graham, famed music promoter, and California political leaders like Governor Edmund ``Pat'' Brown. Their resting places, along with many others, attract visitors from near and far, making Colma a place of reflection and pilgrimage. Colma's cemeteries are not just places of mourning; they are also spaces of beauty and history. The grounds and historic monuments serve as a living museum, presenting the stories of countless individuals and preserving the history of the region. These cemeteries also significantly contribute to the local economy. Colma's unique position as a necropolis means that cemetery related industries like flower shops and monument businesses have sprung up across town. By supporting local employment and commerce, the town and its residents have utilized their unique circumstances to foster strength and sustainability within their community.

Colma's significance extends beyond its role as a final resting place. Long before incorporation, Ohlone natives settled in the area and the Spanish used the land for farming and ranching. During the Gold Rush, the area that is now Colma was crucial for its agricultural products, dairies, and ranches to feed the greater San Francisco Bay Area and the large influx of people. As the greater San Francisco Bay Area grew, so did Colma, incorporating as Lawndale in 1924. The name changed in 1941 due to a conflict with a post office of the same name in Southern California.

After World War II, Colma saw an increase in new housing subdivisions driven by returning veterans and continued adapting to changing needs and diversifying its economy. Colma is home to the famous ``Serramonte Auto Row'' of car dealerships, both foreign and domestic, right in the heart of the town and the town is a retail brick and mortar shopping destination. The Colma BART station opened in 1996 and was the first expansion of the mass transit system deeper into San Mateo County beyond the original plans. Modern success combined with a long, storied history has created a tight-knit community. This deep sense of community and a stable, dedicated elected leadership continues to shape the town. The residents are both resilient and vibrant, with a strong sense of local culture and identity. Colma has embraced the town's unique role, wearing it as a badge of honor for its heritage and history.

I am proud Colma is part of the Congressional District that I represent. The town stands as a testament to the power of adaptation and a reminder of the storied history of San Mateo County. Colma honors the past while also fostering a unique blend of old-world, small-town charm, and modern municipal government. As I reflect on the journey of the Town of Colma, I am reminded of the profound impact that history has on shaping our communities and our identity as Americans. On this day, let us celebrate Colma for its resilient spirit, and its unique place in the heart of San Mateo County.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, America's Urban Search and Rescue teams are vital task forces that deserve adequate funding so they can continue to bring hope during our country's darkest hours.

Deployed across the country whenever a major disaster strikes, these task forces have pulled victims out of the rubble after the World Trade Center collapsed, searched for those stranded in flooded homes during Hurricane Katrina, responded to raging wildfires in Maui, and answered the call to help with many other disasters across America and the world.

These heroes have been there for our Nation when we have needed them the most. While we cannot forecast the next national emergency, Congress must proactively support the needs of these task forces so they may adequately prepare for the next moment they are called into action.

That is why I am leading a bipartisan group of lawmakers with Representatives Young Kim from California and

Jill Tokuda from Hawaii to advocate for an $18 million increase in Federal funding for America's 28 Urban Search and Rescue task forces. This would prevent cuts to funding the task forces received in fiscal year 2024, and it would meet the actual expenses that local fire departments and other first responders have on the ground.

Our proposal is also extremely modest. It represents just $2 million per task force. It is the least we can do to ensure emergency responders have the training and equipment they need when a disaster strikes.

I am grateful to have their support and the support of task force leaders from across the country for this effort.

Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 6009.

This bill is yet another shameless Republican handout to Big Oil companies. Two years ago, House Democrats passed the Inflation Reduction Act, a landmark climate bill that includes reforms for taxpayers to get a fair financial return for oil and gas produced on public lands. H.R. 6009 would block hardworking American taxpayers from receiving the financial benefits in the Inflation Reduction Act.

If energy dominance and independence are the true goals of this bill, let's talk about how we transition to clean energy, which is cheaper, safer, and can be produced right here in the U.S.

My aforementioned home State of California consistently experiences the impacts of climate change. We know that wildfires, sea level rise, flooding, and extreme weather are dangerous and costly. In 2022 alone, extreme weather events cost the United States $165 billion in damages.

Rather than jamming shameless giveaways to Big Oil through Congress, I invite my Republican colleagues to work with House Democrats as a unified Chamber investing in a shared vision of American prosperity and building the next generation of renewable energy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the majority's manufactured shutdown threat. For this reason, I ask my colleagues to defeat the previous question so we can bring up legislation that commits to protecting vital programs, like Social Security.

Our most vulnerable communities will suffer as a result of this shortsighted attempt to hold our most important Federal programs hostage. For example, my California bay area district is home to over 127,000 senior citizens, many of whom rely on Social Security.

Under a Republican shutdown, new applicants to the Social Security program wouldn't be able to enroll in this bedrock American program. While Social Security payments would continue during a shutdown, seniors would experience even more delays and lengthy phone queues when contacting the Social Security Administration. Many seniors already struggle to find help, and a Republican shutdown would only exacerbate this problem.

Modern Republicans are playing roulette with essential constituent services and creating yet another manufactured crisis.

I urge the majority to bring a serious bipartisan proposal to the table to prevent this avoidable crisis.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 1435, the so-called Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act. The only choice H.R. 1435 preserves is Big Oil's choice to worsen the climate crisis.

In California, we boldly led the way on pollution reduction standards. H.R. 1435 is a direct attack on the progress we are just starting to make in transitioning cars from fossil fuels to clean energy.

It would devastate California's goal to transition to EVs by 2035, a groundbreaking policy I proudly supported while serving in the California State Legislature.

This bill is a regressive measure that would doom not only California's goals but also undermine the entire Nation's efforts to combat the climate crisis.

Mr. Speaker, extreme weather is climate change unfolding before our very eyes. This past weekend, the San Francisco Bay Area recorded temperatures in the 90s and 100s--a far cry from our usual temperate summer weather.

My region wasn't the only part of the country feeling the heat. The month of July has been a scorcher for the whole country with no end in sight. In fact, the Fourth of July was one of the hottest days on Earth in at least 50 years--a record that scientists said would have been virtually impossible without climate change.

The story doesn't end with heat waves. Other climate disasters, like severe storms and wildfires, have been and will continue to be more intense and more frequent.

Earlier this year, atmospheric rivers and devastating flooding pummeled my district, nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay, causing millions of dollars in damage.

Many Americans can afford to shield their properties from climate disasters and have done so over the years, but families who are already struggling to make ends meet are often left behind. This is especially true for households of color, many of whom live in more disaster-prone areas.

We need to ensure everyone, regardless of their income, can shield their properties against the most devastating consequences of climate change.

That is why I introduced the Weatherization Resilience and Adaptation Program, or WRAP Act, along with 20 of my colleagues from across the country, from California, but, also, Texas, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Ohio, and Michigan. We stand together.

My bill would help low-income homeowners, affordable housing providers, and mobile home communities harden their property so they are more resilient to climate-driven natural disasters. Homeowners would get help to pay for things like double-pane windows, heat resistant roofing, artificial berms and dunes, and more.

The Biden administration recently announced a nearly $1 billion investment through the Inflation Reduction Act that will assist the owners of federally subsidized affordable housing buildings to become more resilient to climate disasters.

The WRAP Act would build on this historic action by helping individual property owners and the owners of other types of low-income housing who are left out of the IRA program.

It is unfortunate that climate resilience-building measures are seen through a partisan lens. The reality is far different. Climate disasters don't distinguish between so-called red States and blue States. We are all impacted. Congress has the opportunity to shield our most vulnerable communities before disaster strikes.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the resolution. This latest stunt reeks of partisan politics and does nothing but advance an extremist agenda. Worst of all, this resolution attacks a great defender of democracy, a Member who is among our best.

There is a legitimate role for censure in this institution, but the majority has debased it and rendered it meaningless in a cheap partisan slap. Shameful.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Mike Claire, Chancellor of the San Mateo County Community College District, upon his retirement after 34 years of dedicated service to our community.

Mike Claire joined the faculty at College of San Mateo in 1988 after working for a major public accounting firm, and just eight years after enrolling as a student at Canada College in Redwood City, and earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master in Business Administration degrees from California State University, East Bay. During his time as a faculty member, Mike Claire represented the Academic Senate on many college committees and served as chair of College of San Mateo's Curriculum Committee.

In 1997, Mike Claire was appointed as Dean of the Technology Division at College of San Mateo and he worked with faculty and staff to support the development of several new career and technical education programs including Digital Media, Network Cabling, Instrumentation and Process Control Systems, new curriculum for the College's apprenticeship programs, a Paramedic Apprenticeship Program, and a full POST-certified police academy.

Mike Claire served as the Vice President of Instruction at College of San Mateo from 2005 to 2006, and during that time, he worked with instructional deans to support new curriculum development, with faculty to develop the college's initial policies concerning the use of faculty computers and other technologies, and with high school and college stakeholders to expand the Middle College High School program.

In January 2007, Mike Claire was appointed as President of College of San Mateo and worked with stakeholders to guide the college through two successful accreditation visits. He currently serves as a Commissioner on the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). In addition, Mike Claire worked with college constituencies to develop several programs designed for underserved students, including learning communities and other programs that provide direct support to students. Mike Claire oversaw approximately $350 million of new construction and renovation for the College of San Mateo campus. During his tenure, College of San Mateo was recognized as an Aspen Top 150 College, making the College eligible to compete for the prestigious Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.

In August 2019, Mike Claire was appointed as the Acting Chancellor of the San Mateo County Community College District, and as Interim Chancellor of the District in September 2019, serving in that capacity until his appointment as Chancellor in July 2020. Mike Claire skillfully guided the District and its three colleges through both internal and external challenges, most notably ensuring the District's

mission was fulfilled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mike Claire is a life-long San Mateo County resident, and he has engaged with and supported our community through his service on numerous boards including the San Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce, Notre Dame High School, the South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Consortium and the San Mateo Credit Union.

A great leader leaves an organization stronger than when they arrive. By that measure, Mike Claire has not only been a great leader, he has been a thoughtful steward in protecting, preserving, and enhancing the San Mateo County Community College District and its three colleges, most notably his beloved College of San Mateo. Mike Claire has dedicated his career to serving students and he leaves a legacy of countless lives touched and improved through his efforts. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Mike Claire on his retirement, commending him for his tireless dedication of time and talent, and wishing him all the best in the years ahead.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 1, the polluters over people act. The truth is simple. We have no time to waste in the fight against climate change.

This Republican bill would reverse years of progress, emboldening polluters and repealing critical environmental regulations, all while increasing the Federal deficit.

As a father of two young boys, I know this is not the future we want to leave for our children.

Instead of rewarding fossil industries with more record-shattering profits, we need to transition to a clean energy economy by expanding on Democratic wins like the Inflation Reduction Act.

In my home State of California, we have seen the dangers that a warming planet poses to our livelihoods and environment. Wildfires, sea level rise, flooding, and extreme weather patterns can be fatal to our communities.

My bayfront district is surrounded by water. Our communities are threatened by sea level rise on both sides of our peninsula. H.R. 1 would only raise this threat.

H.R. 1 would prioritize the interests of Big Oil and protect profiteers at the expense of our most vulnerable communities and ecosystems.

Critical habitats like the San Francisco Bay would suffer. I recently supported over $75 million in bay restoration funding--natural solutions to sea level rise.

H.R. 1 would significantly harm those efforts.

The American people asked for lower costs, more jobs, and a livable future, not shameless giveaways to Big Oil, not for the polluters over people act.