Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with my colleagues, Representatives John Garamendi and Josh Harder, to recognize the contributions of the Contra Costa Community College District (4CD) on its 75th anniversary.

For 75 years, 4CD has been a vital part of Contra Costa County. Founded on December 14, 1948 by a countywide vote, 4CD was the first countywide junior college district in California. Since its inception, 4CD has committed itself to providing quality and affordable higher education to students of all backgrounds. Serving over 45,000 students each year at their campuses in San Pablo, Pleasant Hill, Pittsburg, San Ramon, and Brentwood, 4CD creates an academic environment that promotes cultural competency, diversity, and community engagement.

The district offers a wide range of courses allowing students to purse an associate degree, transfer to a four-year university, or hone in on their professional skills through specialized vocational and technical trainings. 4CD also offers a number of courses that use open educational resources, helping to cut costs on textbooks. 4CD's more than 3,600 employees are devoted to empowering all students to fulfill their educational and career aspirations by providing accessible, equitable, innovative, and outstanding higher education learning opportunities and support services.

Please join me and Representatives John Garamendi and Josh Harder in recognizing the Contra Costa Community College District for their many contributions to our community and in congratulating them on their 75th anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was unable to vote today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 705, passage of H.J. Res. 88, and ``present'' on rollcall No. 706, adoption of H. Res. 914.

personal explanation

Mr. Speaker, as a former member of the California Air Resources Board having been a Republican appointee by Governor Pete Wilson and having served under two Republicans and one Democratic Governor, I have seen the modeling firsthand to know the importance of reducing our transportation omissions. It is through this lens that I strongly oppose H.R. 4468.

This bill would not only prevent the EPA from implementing its newest and strongest emission standards, but it would also block EPA from finalizing vehicle emission standards that indirectly result in the phasing out of any specific engine technology, which could deal a fatal blow to innovation and the deployment of alternative fuel energies, including electric vehicles.

EPA's proposed standards that this bill would eliminate, reduces 7.3 billion metric tons of carbon pollution and 15,000 tons of particulate matter pollution, which would provide between $63 and $280 billion in health benefits to Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly oppose this bill and partisan efforts to thwart EV development and hinder emissions reductions.

I regret that I was unable to vote on Thursday, November 2, 2023, during the second vote series.

Had I been present, I would have voted:

NAY on Roll Call No. 567, on agreeing to Amendment No. 2 to H.R. 4821, the Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024;

NAY on Roll Call No. 568, on agreeing to Amendment No. 15 to H.R. 4821, the Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024;

NAY on Roll Call No. 569, on agreeing to Amendment No. 59 to H.R. 4821, the Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024;

NAY on Roll Call No. 570, on agreeing to Amendment No. 60 to H.R. 4821, the Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024;

NAY on Roll Call No. 571, on agreeing to Amendment No. 61 to H.R. 4821, the Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024;

NAY on Roll Call No. 572, on agreeing to Amendment No. 66 to H.R. 4821, the Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024;

NAY on Roll Call No. 573, on agreeing to Amendment No. 70 to H.R. 4821, the Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024;

NAY on Roll Call No. 574, on agreeing to Amendment No. 73 to H.R. 4821, the Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024;

NAY on Roll Call No. 575, on agreeing to Amendment No. 74 to H.R. 4821, the Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024;

NAY on Roll Call No. 576, on agreeing to Amendment No. 78 to H.R. 4821, the Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024;

NAY on Roll Call No. 577, H.R. 6126, Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024; and

YEA on Roll Call No. 578, H. Res. 798, Condemning the support of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations at institutions of higher education, which may lead to the creation of a hostile environment for Jewish students, faculty, and staff, as amended.

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

Mr. Chair, the social cost of carbon is an important tool that allows us to put economic value on the cost of greenhouse gas emissions to society as emissions continue to grow.

As we inch closer to the tipping point for being able to reverse the impacts of climate change, the social cost of carbon is even more important for us to know. This kind of analysis is used to evaluate policy proposals and helps to take into account the nonmonetary costs of carbon emissions, like its impact on pollution, drought, public health, and more.

As a real-world example, a social cost of carbon analysis can help more accurately measure the price of oil by taking into account the health and environmental impacts of emissions from oil refineries on nearby communities.

By correctly valuing the damage of each additional ton of carbon dioxide emissions, we can see the real costs or benefits of raising or decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. Using the social cost of carbon now will not only provide massive financial savings in the future for individuals, businesses, and the government, but it will also help to better evaluate the significant public health impacts of climate change.

In the district I represent and the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area, we are continually hit by the impacts of climate-fueled wildfires and drought, among other disasters, as we have seen in the past year alone. The area I represent is a heavy fossil fuel-impacted area with five oil refineries. My district is the headquarters of the second- largest American petroleum company, Chevron.

We have a lot of economic importance in this community, but we are also at the forefront of transitioning, making sure that we are analytical and peer-reviewed in those objective reviews, including cost-benefits, so we make the right decisions in this transition. This is why this is important.

These disasters that we have been impacted by--direct and indirect impacts on public health, including physical injury, mental health impacts, and making chronic illnesses even worse--put extra burdens on individual families in the medical system locally, at the State level, and nationally. This only highlights the need to use all the tools available to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but in a thoughtful way by having the best analysis possible.

By knowing the true value of certain investments and policy action, and objective criteria, we can make more informed decisions on how our actions today will impact future generations.

Addressing climate change takes a whole-of-government approach. Having been a former board member of the California Air Resources Board, and having served under two Republican Governors and one Democratic Governor when we did these kinds of analyses that were bipartisan, I know firsthand the importance of correctly evaluating the reduction of emissions from all angles.

At that time, both Republicans and Democrats in California valued legitimate cost-benefit analysis. The board had to consider this by a State statute, which was signed by Ronald Reagan when he signed the California Clean Air Act, and consider all of these consequences.

Unfortunately, the bill in front of us today prohibits the Federal Government from doing just this kind of carbon analysis on a cost- benefit basis. This is just another misguided, partisan effort, unfortunately, to dismantle our work to address, in a thoughtful way, climate change that will continue to be detrimental to all communities, industries, and businesses.

My amendment would strike this prohibition and continue to allow for agencies to use the social cost of carbon in a cost-benefit way as one tool in the larger decisionmaking process.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I unexpectedly and respectfully disagree with my friend and colleague.

As in all cost-benefits, it takes time to make them more effective. In California, we are doing that as part of the tradition of the California EPA and CARB. We work closely with the Federal agencies, and then everyone benefits from it, whatever their position on energy and the effect of climate.

As I said, as somebody who has been involved with the fossil fuel industry and wants to make sure that there is a correct transition, and as someone who views the impact of carbon very seriously and thinks we are in a very difficult time, these kinds of cost-benefits, if done right, help the argument.

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

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I rise today to recognize the contributions of Contra Costa Television (CCTV) as we commemorate Free Speech Week and Community Media Day.

Since its inception in 1994, CCTV has sought to provide community members with critical information, helping to keep our community connected and residents abreast of local issues. CCTV provides coverage of local government meetings, public safety information, local sports, and other community events with the goal of making local journalism accessible to all. CCTV livestreams to their website and social media platforms and provides twenty-four hour broadcasting, providing Contra Costans with convenient access to breaking news, important community updates, and more. CCTV has continually shown its dedication to sharing our community's stories and connecting Contra Costa residents.

CCTV has also partnered with the County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department and local chapters of the League of Women Voters to provide voters with up-to-date reporting on candidates and ballot measures. A well-informed public is vital to any healthy democracy and I'm proud of CCTV's contributions to provide locally-produced voter education programming.

CCTV has received many accolades for its outstanding programing. The Veterans' Voices program received the Western Alliance Video Excellence award in 2016 and 2018 and the California State Association of Counties 2015 Merit Award.

Please join me in honoring Contra Costa Television as we commemorate Free Speech Week and Community Media Day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Alan Smith.

Throughout his career, Alan faithfully served his community and played a key role in supporting his local library system. When I was in local government, I was fortunate enough to appoint Alan to our local library commission, the Contra Costa Library Commission in the bay area. Through his decades of service with the library commission, he worked throughout the State of California, in addition to our community, conducting training sessions for library boards and commissions and advocating for our libraries.

Alan also served as the president of the California Association of Library Trustees and Commissioners and represented Contra Costa County on the Bay Area Library Information Systems Advisory Board. Alan was recognized for his leadership and received the California Library Association's President's Award.

As part of his service, Alan was a fierce advocate for legislative action to strengthen our Nation's public libraries.

Please join me in recognizing Alan Smith on his well-deserved retirement after 26 years of service to this Nation's libraries.

Mr. Speaker, today, I stand in solidarity with my colleagues and the 150,000 members of the United Auto Workers fighting for fair pay and safer working conditions. In high cost-of-living areas, like the area I represent, the bay area, cost-of-living adjustments are necessary to ensure that workers have a livable standard in their community with their job.

Over the past decade, the Big Three automakers almost doubled their profits, much of it with the help from the United States Government. These profits totaled $250 billion. The CEOs' pay increased almost 40 percent just in the last 4 years. Unfortunately, pay for the workers hasn't come near to following suit. Though the strikes are currently ongoing in three States, their outcome will have impacts on and provide benefits to the quality of life for autoworkers across the country.

As a member of both the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Education and the Workforce, I am especially aware of the implications these negotiations will have on the electric vehicle transition. As a former union member myself, I believe we need to ensure strong labor protections for this new and fast-growing industry which provides a historic opportunity to both support workers and provide for a just and sustainable economic transition.

I thank the UAW members for their sacrifice and their commitment. I thank them nationwide for standing up for what is right, and what is right not just for their members but for the future of this country.

Mr. Chairman, I am strongly opposed to the so-called Preserving Choice in Vehicles Purchases Act. Not only does this bill hinder our efforts and investments in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing the climate crisis, but it also reverses successful work already implemented across the country and in my home State of California.

This bill would stop California from getting waivers that allow it to implement stronger and more aggressive emission standards than the Federal Government sets. This waiver was signed into law by Richard Nixon.

Over the last 50 years, California has received over 100 Clean Air Act waivers; over that same time span, many pollutant levels have decreased between 75 and 99 percent, even while the State's population doubled and vehicles have quadrupled.

Mr. Speaker, 17 States and the District of Columbia have adopted all or part of California's stronger regulations. With California's leadership, we have seen benefits to the environment, the economy, and public health.

As someone who was appointed by two Republican Governors and one Democrat, I strongly oppose this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties as we commemorate Hunger Action Month.

The Food Bank, a member of Feeding America's national network of food banks, distributes free food each week to the communities of Contra Costa and Solano Counties. Through partnering with 260 local nonprofit organizations, the Food Bank provides more than two million pounds of food each month to support hunger-fighting efforts in our community. Initiatives including its mobile food pharmacy, senior food program, and drive-thru distributions, have helped reducing food insecurity in the Bay Area.

With one in four residents in our community depending on the Food Bank for emergency and supplemental food each month, the Food Bank not only provides over 3,500,000 meals monthly, but it also advocates for a hunger-free future by highlighting the hunger issues our community faces, educating people on the importance of food banks in addressing these challenges, and advocating for policy changes to advance the fight to end hunger. Further, the Food Bank works tirelessly to prevent food waste, saving perfectly edible food from being discarded. The organization partners with over 130 retailers to rescue 6,500,000 lbs. of food each year through its grocery recovery pickups.

As we celebrate Hunger Action Month, I extend my sincere appreciation to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties for its invaluable service to our community and commitment to fighting food insecurity and improving the lives of Bay Area residents.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Karen Mangini.

Karen was born and raised in Concord, California, as a fourth- generation native of Contra Costa County. Throughout her life, Karen dedicated herself to serving the students and families of the East Bay. After earning her Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University at Hayward, she began her 43-year teaching career at St. Michael's Catholic School in Livermore. She later taught at Emma C. Smith School for 15 years in the Livermore School District while earning her California State Teaching Credential, her Master's Degree in education, and her Administrative Services Credential.

Following an accomplished teaching career, Karen began a new role as a school administrator. In 1986, she became the Dean of Students at Presentation High School in Berkeley. She went on to become the Principal of St. Cyril School in Oakland, and in 1990, became the Principal of St. Agnes School in Concord.

After retiring in 2010, Karen continued to serve her community as a devoted supporter of multiple charities, including the Office for Mission Advancement, Operation Smile Train. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and St. Bonaventure Church Food Pantry.

Sadly, Karen passed away at the age of 80 last month. She will be remembered by the community for her outstanding character, and I will personally remember her for being a delightful neighbor. Please join me in recognizing the life and service of Karen Mangini.

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I will also thank and say how grateful I am for the leadership of Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Larsen on this comprehensive and thoughtful bipartisan reauthorization.

Many of the priorities that I have authored made it into the bill, including several provisions from my Safe Landings Act, like identifying the need for airport surface surveillance and safety systems and requiring data analysis of safety incidents.

I am also very appreciative that the amendment I spent a lot of time on will be considered. I worked with pilots and other safety experts, including a constituent and good friend, Captain ``Sully'' Sullenberger, the skilled pilot who safely navigated the landing on the Hudson River and a long-time advocate and expert for aviation safety who helped me with this amendment and strongly supports the proposal. This amendment creates a Task Force on Human Factors in Aviation Safety.

We know as technology changes--and the near miss that got me involved in more of the aviation issues at SFO some years ago where we came within 59 feet of having the largest aviation disaster in American history--we are making sure that we are training the pilots in a way that keeps them consistent with technology, and the great research on neuroscience and human factors that is getting better all the time, that we are using that to make sure that humans are integrated with the latest technology.

The NTSB identified that human factors, specifically pilot fatigue, have played roles in that 2017 incident and many near misses, so it is important that this work gets done.

The aviation safety system will continue to be safe and amongst the safest in the world if we continue to make sure that it is updated and doesn't rest on its well-deserved laurels in the past.

Mr. Chair, these decisions in this reauthorization will help provide that, and I thank the leadership for the extended time.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize the life and service of Dr. Orin Allen.

Throughout his life, Dr. Allen was committed to advancing justice and serving his community. He worked for the Contra Costa County Probation Department in California for 35 years and was especially passionate about supporting our youth, serving on several local boards. In 1999, Dr. Allen was named Contra Costa County's Humanitarian of the Year in recognition of his commitment to the county's youth.

Dr. Allen also worked tirelessly to ensure quality education and supported students. He served as an elected member on the Pittsburg Unified School District Board for more than 20 years, and was recognized for his contributions with an Outstanding Friend of Education award from the Association of California School Administrators.

Outside of his professional pursuits, Dr. Allen enjoyed spending time with his family and friends of which I am one and consider myself lucky to have been his friend.

Sadly, Dr. Allen passed away on April 23. He will be remembered for his compassionate nature and his many contributions to our community. Please join me in recognizing the life of Dr. Orin Allen.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my neighbor and colleague and friend, Congressman Thompson, for the time and for his tireless leadership on this important topic and for his incredible understanding, from many perspectives, on this important subject.

I come to this subject as a survivor of gun violence, having lost my father to gun violence 44 years ago. As Mr. Thompson mentioned, suicide is the leading issue with gun violence, and we know the free and easy access to guns in States and communities that don't provide for evidence-based research results in almost 60 percent of those daily deaths. Sixty of the 100 a day are by people that are self-inflicted like my father.

In California, the district I represent and the district Mr. Thompson represents, the Bay Area, we can be proud that these commonsense, evidence-based gun violence and public health initiatives make you safer. According to Giffords, significantly safer. We have years of research to demonstrate this.

While we are proud of the fact that you are safer in California in our districts because of sound public evidence and constitutionally approved policy, we are frustrated that weak gun laws in other parts of the country make it more dangerous even in our communities.

Forty percent of the guns used in California come from outside of the State illegally. The ATF reports that nearly 60,000 guns are trafficked across State lines nationally each year with tragic results.

As many as 87 percent of the firearms used in crimes in Chicago, New York, and Boston were trafficked from other States, in spite of those jurisdictions' thoughtful gun violence prevention laws.

Seventy-five percent of trace guns that cross State lines come from States without background checks.

Because of this patchwork of State and local laws, States like California, with strong gun laws, see increased rates of gun homicide and gun crime when they border States with weak gun laws.

To make a real impact, action has to happen here at the Federal level. We should all commit that we will not back down from this fight because every American, no matter where they live, regardless of where they call home, deserves to live free of the fear of gun violence.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of June Catalano as she retires from the City of Pleasant Hill.

Throughout her career, most recently as City Manager in the City of Pleasant Hill, California, June has been dedicated to her community and to improving the lives of Bay Area residents. Prior to her work with the City of Pleasant Hill, June served as City Manager of Martinez from 2001 to 2006. Additionally, she served as Assistant City Manager for the City of Milpitas from 1998 to 2001. She also was the Director of Development Services with the City of San Leandro, Director of Planning and Building for the City of Santa Ana, and Community Development Director for the City of Laguna Beach.

June's leadership has been instrumental to the expansion and growth of Pleasant Hill. During her tenure with the City, June worked to foster a vibrant community within Pleasant Hill and to provide public spaces for community members to gather and enjoy. She played a key role in the redevelopment of the Crossroads Shopping Center and the newly renovated Pleasant Hill Library. June also led efforts to coordinate the Concerts by the Lake, Community Service Day, National Night Out, and more. Additionally, June guided the City through the Great Recession and through the COVID-19 pandemic where her leadership and dedication were critical in prioritizing community safety and health. June has worked tirelessly throughout her career to bring community members together and to improve quality of life for all residents of Pleasant Hill.

Please join me in congratulating June Catalano on her well-deserved retirement after 17 years of outstanding public service to our community.