Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the fifth anniversary of an awful day in American history and this Chamber.

I was one of the last Members of Congress evacuated by the Capitol Police into a room just to my left off the floor. On that day, the damage caused is hard to quantify. Mr. Speaker, 174 Capitol Police officers were injured while protecting this sacred place, and 5 officers lost their lives. The Capitol itself sustained $30 million in damages. In total, that day cost American taxpayers $2.7 billion, Mr. Speaker. Think of that.

While the insurrectionists did not succeed that day, they did cause even bigger damage than the dollar damage. The person most responsible for this continues to behave the way he did then.

George Santayana famously said that those who forget history are condemned to repeat it. I pray that that is not the case. We must remember honestly, all of us, what happened that day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service and career of San Ramon Police Chief Denton Carlson.

Chief Carlson is retiring from the San Ramon Police Department after more than 27 years of service. Throughout his career, Chief Carlson has demonstrated his professionalism and his steadfast commitment to public service and community engagement. Chief Carlson began his law enforcement career in 1998 as a Deputy Sheriff, working in the City of San Ramon since 2002. He then joined the San Ramon Police Department at its inception in 2007. In the San Ramon Police Department, he has served as a Patrol Officer, Detective, Tactical Team Leader, SWAT Team Commander, and Public Information Officer. His leadership was instrumental in launching the Police Department's Community Resource and Crime Prevention Division and its social media and emergency communications systems.

He was promoted to Captain in 2017 and has also served as Director of the City's Office of Emergency Management from 2015 to 2022. In this role, he was instrumental in keeping residents safe and informed, and was recognized in 2016 as Employee of the Year by the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce for his work to promote public safety. In 2022, he became the 5th Police Chief of San Ramon. Chief Carlson has consistently shown his dedication to fostering a safe and secure community for San Ramon residents.

I thank Chief Denton Carlson for many years of service to our community and congratulate him on his well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the distinguished tenure of Jim Wunderman after 22 years of service as the CEO of the Bay Area Council. For over two decades, Jim has built a legacy of leadership and dedicated service.

Jim's career in service began in 1984, serving as Chief of Staff for former San Francisco Mayor Frank M. Jordan. He then split his time between the private and public sectors, working for former San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein and serving as the Senior Vice President of external affairs with Providian Financial Corporation. Jim's experience helped him to understand the value of public-private partnerships and provided him with critical institutional knowledge needed to strengthen our region and promote higher quality of life for all Bay Area residents.

Since joining the Bay Area Council in 2004, Jim has expanded the Council's reach to include more than 325 member companies across a diverse range of industries. During his tenure, the Council led several successful ballot initiatives, securing billions of dollars for transportation, affordable housing, education, climate resilience, and healthcare. He has also led the Council to play a role on the global stage, launching a partnership with China that has grown to four Bay Area Council offices. This led to the state of California reopening its trade and investment office in China, operated by the Bay Area Council. Jim's work demonstrates his profound commitment to the economic well- being of the Bay Area and to keeping our region globally competitive.

Additionally, Jim has contributed to the Bay Area's development by serving on multiple boards and commissions. These include the University of California Business Executive Council, the California Pacific Medical Center, the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame, the Oakland Zoo, and many more. He also serves as a Visiting Professor at the UC Davis Graduate School of Management, helping to shape the next generation of leaders and advocates.

Please join me in honoring Jim Wunderman for his unwavering commitment to service, outstanding leadership, and for his invaluable contributions to our region. I wish Jim the best of luck in his next chapter with California Forever.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise as a former small business owner having over three decades owning and managing restaurants in strong opposition to this sad healthcare plan.

After kicking 10 million Americans off Medicaid in the big, ugly bill, Republicans are following up with this proposal that the Congressional Budget Office says will take healthcare away from an additional 100,000 Americans a year.

We need to make healthcare more affordable for all Americans. Despite spending 18\1/2\ percent of our GDP in the United States on healthcare, we have the worst outcomes: the highest mortality rate, life expectancy, and acuity.

We need to make it more affordable. I agree with the ranking member and the chair that we should work together on the inefficiencies in the system. However, this is not it.

After spending 15 years on their healthcare plan, Republicans have just repackaged some of their old ideas, and they are hoping the American people won't notice that it is not going to help. Instead, we should extend the tax credits for 3 years and come together.

Mr. Speaker, today I express my outrage about the affordability crisis in American healthcare.

Republican leaders have failed to extend the expiring tax credits that help people afford their insurance. Consumers affected will face an average increase in their premium costs of 114 percent next year.

Rather than making healthcare more affordable and effective, Republican leaders and President Trump passed their big, ugly bill that kicks 10 million Americans off of Medicaid. It increases healthcare costs for 5 million small business owners and self-employed workers. It fails to extend critical tax credits. This is all to give billions of dollars of tax credits to the wealthiest Americans.

Time is running out, as we all know. I urge my Republican colleagues to do the right thing and work with Democrats to make healthcare more affordable and more effective for Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary career of San Ramon, California, Police Chief Denton Carlson as he retires after 27 years of service.

Chief Carlson began his law enforcement career in 1998 and later joined the San Ramon Police Department during its founding in 2007. Quickly rising through the ranks, he became captain in 2017 and chief in 2022.

Chief Carlson additionally served as the director of the city's Office of Emergency Management from 2015 to 2022. His leadership was instrumental in launching the police department's community resource and crime prevention division and its social media and emergency communications systems.

Deeply respected in the community by all the citizens, please join me in thanking Chief Carlson for his extraordinary and many years of public service and for public safety and congratulating him on a well- deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and public service of a mentor of mine and many people in California and in the bay area, and a wonderful human being, a dedicated public servant from Walnut Creek, California, in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay.

Gwen Regalia began her career as a fourth grade teacher--she was a teacher all her life in many ways--before serving on the Walnut Creek School District governing board for almost a decade.

Gwen later served on the city council for 21 years and also served regionally on the Association of Bay Area Governments. She had five terms as the mayor of the city of Walnut Creek, during which time she championed the development of local institutions, like the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek and the Walnut Creek Library, two remarkable local institutions.

Sadly, Gwen passed away in November. She will be remembered for her outstanding leadership, her indelible mark that she left on Walnut Creek and the San Francisco Bay Area, the State of California, and, indeed, the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Gwen, for her service and incredible personality.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and service of Gwen Regalia.

A proud resident of Walnut Creek since 1958, Gwen was an incredible leader and public servant. Beginning as a local 4th grade schoolteacher, Gwen started her career in local politics with the Walnut Creek School District board, serving nearly a decade. During this time, she was also instrumental in helping elect Peg Kovar, the city's first female mayor.

In 1987, Gwen was elected to Walnut Creek City Council. She served on City Council for 21 years, including five terms as Mayor. During her time in city government, Gwen was always a champion of local arts and culture. Some of her most notable accomplishments include overseeing the development of the Lesher Center for the Arts, the Downtown Walnut Creek Library, the Shadelands Art Center, and the Iron Horse Trail bridge over Ygnacio Valley Road. Gwen's leadership also extended past Walnut Creek, as she was a president of the Association of Bay Area Governments Executive Board.

Unfortunately, Gwen passed away on November 17, 2025, at the age of 92. She was a wonderful mentor to me and so many others and the Bay Area is better because of Gwen. She will be remembered for her outstanding leadership, dedicated service to her community, and the incredible impact she had on the City of Walnut Creek and beyond. Please join me in honoring Gwen Regalia for her many contributions to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I will say to my friend from Kentucky that it has been a long time since you have been to the Bay Area, so I will take you up on your offer.

One of the reasons I wanted to come down and speak to this is because I represent an area in the Bay Area that has five refineries in it. They have been valuable tax providers and employers for many years. One of them is about to close and another one is in the process of closing. Two others have spent billions of dollars to work on transitional fuels, to put investment into those refineries to produce biofuels that are part of the transition to cleaner, safer, more economical energy sources. The last one, Chevron, is doing both.

I must say I am reminded, as I sit here, to the same arguments 30 years ago having been involved at the local level in California about secondhand smoke and tobacco when the tobacco industry was insisting that the Tobacco Institute do studies about the cost to smokers by passing secondhand smoke ordinances that figured out the full cost to consumers for people who didn't smoke.

As a former restaurant owner, who didn't allow people to smoke, it just reminds me of the same thing. I believe in research because I have worked with a refinery and oil companies for many years. I was one of those regulators. I represented the Bay Area on the California Air Resources Board for 10 years. I was appointed by two Republicans, by the way, and one Democrat.

What we have done is, we are transitioning. Twenty-five percent of the cars in northern California last

year were EVs. They were alternative fuels. We knew this was coming. We have tried to work and invest in the refinery community on how we transition for the local government, who required those taxes, and for the employers-employees who need those jobs.

Let's do research on how we transition and give States the ability to transition, if they choose, and local governments to transition. While I value the research, let's be honest about having more research that is more objective and consider the full cost to changing our energy.

Almost 50 million Americans live within a mile of a refinery or a heavy processing plant. Their public health costs are disproportionately affected by what we know from traditional pollutants, particulate matter, and smog. Then when you add carbon into it, the economic model changes completely.

Mr. Speaker, I suggest to Mr. Guthrie, before he comes out to the Bay Area, we have a collegial conversation and we can go to those refineries. I would particularly like to take him to the ones that have invested on the transition because we know we need a transition for those of us who want to go to as near-zero emissions as possible, and we are succeeding.

I will remind my colleagues, too, across the aisle that the Chinese are our global competition. The Chinese auto manufacturing industry is about to become the largest auto manufacturer in the world. They are all EVs.

They are moving to this. While we try to protect traditional energy sources, let's be smart about the transition economically for American consumers and taxpayers.

I don't disagree with looking at capacity, but let's do it in a broader and more objective way that tells the full story as truthfully as possible, so we as policymakers can be more thoughtful about the short-term impacts of our policy decisions, as well as in the midterm and long term.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and service of Mike Doyle, a dedicated public servant from Danville, California, in my district.

Mike left his Pennsylvania hometown at just 17 to join the United States Air Force and was stationed in Germany, where he provided aid to U.S. airmen and displaced citizens after World War II.

After being reassigned to a nearby Air Force base in northern California, Mike moved to Danville in 1955, and he was elected to the town council in 1991. He played a crucial role in Danville's growth, spending 25 years serving the town on the town council, including five terms as mayor of the town of Danville.

Sadly, Mike passed away in October. He will be remembered for his outstanding leadership, honesty, and for his indelible mark that he left on our community and on this country.

Please join me in honoring Mike Doyle for his invaluable contributions to the United States of America and the community he so loved and served.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Tamara Steiner for her invaluable service to our community throughout her journalistic career.

For over 20 years, Tamara has worked to keep our community connected and informed. Tamara and Bob Steiner started The Pioneer in 2003, providing local news to Clayton, Concord, and Pleasant Hill residents at no cost. The Pioneer covered key community events, including Clayton Business and Community Association (CBCA) festivals, De La Salle football, and local politics. Under Tamara's leadership, The Pioneer provided critical news to local residents throughout challenging and uncertain times, such as the 2008 financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and local emergencies like landslides and fires. The Pioneer also sponsored several annual local events including CBCA festivals, the Hay Day ``Woof-o-ween'' dog costume contest, and more. As local newspapers became more scarce, The Pioneer continued to thrive and worked to foster a strong and vibrant community in Clayton and beyond.

Beyond their work with The Pioneer, Tamara and Bob have continually demonstrated their steadfast commitment to our community. They started Clayton Clean Ups, served on CBCA's board, marched in local parades, and more. Additionally, Tamara served as Executive Director of the Pacific Business Center and as a board member for the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, underscoring her commitment to local development. She also taught Business English and Communications at the community college level, helping to prepare the next generation of journalists and business professionals. Throughout her life, Tamara has worked tirelessly to serve our community with enthusiasm and care.

Please join me in thanking Tamara Steiner for her decades of remarkable dedication to local journalism and in recognizing her incredible impact in Contra Costa County.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and service of Mike Doyle. Throughout his life, Mike demonstrated his unwavering devotion to service and empowering his community. Mike was born in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania and left his hometown at the age of 17 to join the United States Air Force. He was promoted to Sergeant and was posted to Erding Air Base in Bavaria, Germany, where he served as Chaplain's Assistant, providing aid to U.S. airmen, German citizens, and displaced individuals. He was then reassigned to Parks Air Base in Pleasanton, California where, after stopping for directions at Elliott's Bar in downtown Danville, he stumbled upon his future hometown. From there, Mike fell in love with the Town of Danville and began raising his family there in 1955.

Mike dedicated his life to serving his community and improving quality of life for Danville residents. He was first elected to the Town Council in 1991, served as Mayor for five terms, and devoted over 25 years of service to the Town. Throughout his tenure, he played a crucial role in guiding the town as it grew while helping to maintain Danville's small-town charm. He was admired for his commitment to fiscal responsibility and support for Danville's businesses, faith communities, and schools. Additionally, he represented Danville for more than 20 years on the Board of Directors of the League of California Cities.

Sadly, Mike passed away on October 19, 2025 at the age of 96. He will be remembered for his outstanding leadership, honesty, and for the indelible mark that he has left on our community. Please join us in honoring Mike Doyle for his invaluable contributions to the Town of Danville and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Shirley Krohn and congratulate her on earning the first ever California Senior Legislature ``Legislator of the Decade'' award.

Shirley's advocacy and dedicated policy work have improved the lives of countless seniors in our community. She served on the Contra Costa County Advisory Council on Aging, including serving twice as President, where she worked tirelessly to ensure the voices of Contra Costa's seniors were heard. Shirley also worked to combat elder financial abuse in her role as Chairman of the Board at Bechtel Credit Union, where her efforts led to landmark reporting laws which are now emulated across the country. She also served in the California Senior Legislature, working to improve quality of life for California's seniors. Shirley has been a life-long champion for the dignity, safety, and well-being of older Americans.

Shirley's leadership has shaped state policy on dementia care, end- of-life decision making, and protections for our vulnerable populations. I would also like to commend her for her mentorship of the next generation of advocates, cementing her legacy of service for years to come. Shirley's service is a true example of outstanding public leadership and advocacy.

Please join me in thanking Shirley Krohn for her decades of exemplary service on behalf of older adults throughout the State of California.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of Cindy Gershen on her 70th birthday. Cindy has worked tirelessly to bring healthy eating initiatives to life throughout the East Bay. She graduated from U.C. San Diego before opening Sunrise Bakery and Catering in Walnut Creek. Now called ``Sunrise Bistro & Catering'', the over 40 year old locally renown restaurant prides itself on nutrition and healthy cooking. Throughout her time as owner and chef of the Sunrise Bistro, Cindy has continuously revamped the menu to align with the best nutrition standards. In 2009, Cindy created the nonprofit, ``Wellness City Challenge'', which seeks to improve community health and promote the importance of nutrition. She has impacted the lives of countless residents across the East Bay, encouraging them to follow her own journey to live healthier lives.

Additionally, Cindy has worked to promote wellness in schools and ensure that future generations can become educated culinary experts. For over ten years between 2011 to 2022, she taught students about food and nutrition at Mount Diablo High School in Concord, creating the Sustainable Hospitality Program. Her classes focused on topics such as food science, harvesting, and career readiness. Cindy's class was so successful that it inspired similar courses at several other high schools across the county. Additionally, she was recognized for her wellness advocacy efforts as California Assembly District 14's ``Woman of the Year'' in 2014.

Cindy is also an author who has collaborated with Dr. Robert Lustig at the University of California, San Francisco to publish cookbooks backed by scientific research. She currently works as a chef at East Bay Health, helping patients practice intentional, healthy eating. Cindy's work has been immensely impactful across our region and her service has left an indelible impact on our community.

Please join me in thanking Cindy Gershen for her outstanding work and in wishing her a very happy 70th birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a survivor of stage IV cancer to express my astonishment and to object to the Trump administration's cuts to American cancer research.

Over the last 50 years, the 5-year cancer survival rate for people like myself has risen from 49 percent to 68 percent. This is largely because of American taxpayers' investment in the brilliant researchers at the National Cancer Institute.

The administration's cuts to the National Cancer Institute's spending by $842 million in its first 7 months alone put that trend in jeopardy. Just as a return on investment, this is astonishingly bad. For every $1 spent by American taxpayers at NCI, they get almost $3 back. Experts warn that we will lose a generation of scientists because of this recklessness.

I urge the administration and my Republican colleagues to reverse course, maintain our global leadership, and work toward a better future for the 40 percent of Americans who will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes.