Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of New Mexico resident Mary Betty Minero, who passed away on July 15, 2014.

Betty was a lifelong resident of Barelas and a regular at Barelas Coffee House, which is where I first met her during my campaign for Congress in 2012. Betty had an outsized personality and an exuberant joy for life. She and I made a connection the instant she approached me, clutching her Betty Boo lunch pail, for a hug. Betty made me feel special, the same way she treated dozens of New Mexicans she embraced with equal enthusiasm each day. Neighbors, business leaders and government workers were always greeted by Betty as she worked the crowd before settling in at table 9A with a spoon in hand and half-and-half ready for her coffee.

Betty loved to dance. When she wasn't dancing with customers in the tight entryway at the coffee house, Betty could be found each Tuesday at Ned's, where her daughter, Geri Lucero, would take her for a night of dancing and local music.

Betty loved her close-knit family that included her husband, Ambrosio Minero, and their three daughters: Geri Lucero, Gloria Gutierrez and Betty Jo Martin. She also treasured her encounters with everyone she met. Her daughter said Betty never considered anyone a stranger, and if you talked to her long enough, she concluded you were probably related. She liked to tell people she thought she was 21 years old--before looking into the mirror and realizing she was really a young 89.

She was a parishioner at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Barelas and she was known to pray for the people she met, particularly those who were sick. Shortly before her death, Betty mourned the untimely death of her great-grandson, Jacob Gutierrez, a football star at Del Norte High School.

Betty's sincerity and genuine appreciation for others has had a profound effect on everyone who was fortunate enough to enjoy Betty's company and her spirit lives on in our community. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends. May the memory of Betty live on in our hearts.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Doroteo ``D.M.'' Martinez, a dedicated public servant, proud family man, and devoted community leader, as he celebrates his 96th birthday.

D.M. grew up in the small town of Roy, New Mexico--a village of just over 300 people, and dedicated his life to the service of others, in both his local community and across the state of New Mexico. I was fortunate to work with D.M. when I was the state's Secretary of Aging, and I found him to be an intelligent, respected, and resolute individual. With D.M. and Travis Wood's help we were able to establish the Travis Wood Senior Center in Roy and provide support services to the senior community there.

Throughout his life, D.M. has continued to blaze trails in New Mexico, serving as President of the New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperative Association, member of the Roy School Board, Chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, organist for his local church, and an active member of the American Legion, all while remaining an avid farmer and rancher.

D.M. personifies the idea that with hard work, persistence, and dedication nothing is unattainable. It is individuals like D.M. that make our country strong, and his vision and accomplishments serve as an inspiration for future generations of New Mexicans. D.M. truly has lived his life to the fullest and demonstrates the impact that one individual can have on an entire community.

Mr. Speaker, I want to join his family and friends in celebrating all that D.M. has accomplished in 96 wonderful years and looking forward to the many more to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Michael May, an outstanding leader and educator in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for his time as Executive Director for Amy Biehl High School (ABHS).

Founded in 1999, by public school teachers Tony Monfiletto and Tom Siegel, ABHS fundamentally changed the idea of what a high school can contribute to the students it educates. The founders envisioned a school that not only prepared students for college, but held itself accountable for a student's success after graduation. It is no coincidence that during Mike's tenure, nearly 100 percent of ABHS students attended college and 86 percent of those students graduated with a Bachelor's degree.

More than that, Mike has inspired students to strive for academic excellence while fulfilling their commitment to the community at large. On March 18, 2014, I visited the school to recognize and congratulate the students for their achievement of 65,000 hours of community service to over 140 non-profit organizations. And on June 17, 2014, after working closely with Mike, I introduced and the House of Representatives passed the Albuquerque, New Mexico, Federal Land Conveyance Act of 2014 (H.R. 3998), which allows ABHS to obtain ownership of the Old Federal Court House and Post Office in the heart of downtown Albuquerque. We will continue to work to enact this bill into law, preserve this historic building, and provide students with a first-rate education.

Mike always put his students first and even talked at length to the Economic Forum of Albuquerque about the great work done by his school to benefit the business community. When asked about ABHS's numerous successes during his time as Executive Director, Mike said:

I would love to thank the community for the support of the

school and what we have accomplished. What we have

accomplished would not have been possible without the

commitment of so many people who have seen the value in what

we are doing.

This statement reflects Mike's selflessness and demonstrates the respect and admiration that Mike has for our community in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mike's vision, passion, dedication, and hands-on approach with students are one-of-a-kind. While he will be sorely missed, I have no doubt that he will accomplish great things in his new role directing the L'Ecole d'Humanite boarding school in Switzerland.

Mr. Speaker, last September, I was honored to welcome the Tri-Caucus Health Disparities Summit to my home State of New Mexico. The Center for Health Policy at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque brought experts from all over the country together to talk about what they are seeing as providers, researchers, and patients; and we heard that communities of color continue to face substantial cultural, social, and economic barriers to obtaining quality health care and achieving equitable health outcomes.

Several of my colleagues in fact joined me at that summit, and we all pledged not to just acknowledge these disparities, but to act to provide the tools and resources necessary to achieve health equity. That is what the Health Equity and Accountability Act does.

It is a comprehensive bill, developed with significant stakeholder input, that would build on the gains of the Affordable Care Act and put in place the policies and the infrastructure needed to eliminate health disparities.

The bill sets national standards for culturally and linguistically appropriate care and includes programs to address diseases that disproportionately impact minority communities. It also provides grants and scholarships to build diversity in the health care workforce and extends funding to strengthen the health IT infrastructure in minority communities.

These provisions are just part of a larger strategic approach because problems like this really are more systemic. We can't just add some funding here or make a policy change there and walk away. This takes thoughtful, comprehensive policy to make a substantial long-lasting difference on issues like this.

I would like to commend my colleague, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal- Allard from California, for her leadership on this bill. It is not easy to put together a bill of this size in consultation with dozens of Members' offices and more than 300 stakeholder groups, but she managed to do just that, and I thank her for putting together one of the best versions of this bill I think Congress has had before it.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of New Mexico resident, and businessman Ismael ``Smiley'' Cordova.

Ismael ``Smiley'' Cordova was born on May 17, 1935 in Los Chavez, New Mexico. He would go on to accomplish many things in his life, but was best known for founding Belen Consumer Finance, which he owned and managed for over 25 years, providing loan services for the citizens of Belen and its surrounding area.

When he wasn't helping locals qualify for loans at work he was contributing in other ways. Ismael proudly served in the United States Army National Guard, was an active member of the Knights of Columbus, Elks Lodge, Moose Lodge, the Valencia County Sheriff's Posse, and an avid parishioner at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church.

More than that, Ismael was a devoted husband and father. Together, Ismael and his wife Kandy made a dynamic duo full of life, knowledge and exuberant warmth to a community that they loved dearly. A savvy businessman and spirited legislator they inspired everyone who had the opportunity to share their company. Ismael loved his four beloved children whom he kept close to his heart and the family gatherings where everyone would reminisce on the amazing experiences growing up in Los Chavez.

A successful businessman, loving father and husband--Ismael was indeed a caring man of faith and courage. His character, love of family, charisma and selflessness were felt by all who knew him. My thoughts and prayers are with family, friends and everyone who has experienced Ismael's generosity and compassion. May the memory of Ismael live on in our hearts.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a pioneer in the field of medicine, Dr. Barbara McAneny, on her election as Chair of the American Medical Association (AMA) Board of Trustees.

Since 1980, Dr. McAneny has called Albuquerque, New Mexico her home. After graduating from the University of Iowa College of Medicine in 1977 and completing her residency in 1980, Dr. McAneny began her life- long commitment to the fight against cancer as a Hematology-Oncology Fellow at the University of New Mexico (UNM). Taking her skills to private practice, in 1983, Dr. McAneny began working for Hematology Oncology Associates in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and in 1987 cofounded New Mexico Oncology Hematology Consultants Ltd.

Dr. McAneny was also a driving force behind the creation of the New Mexico Cancer Center (NMCC), the largest physician-based cancer treatment institution in the state, where she currently serves as a Managing Partner and CEO. NMCC has continued to lead the country in comprehensive outpatient medical and radiation oncology care and imaging, which it conducts at multiple sites and in underserved rural areas.

She also serves as the Medical Director and CEO of Innovative Oncology Business Solutions. In 2012, they were awarded a $19.76 million grant to implement a community oncology medical home model in seven practices across the country. This was made possible after years of dedicated research and development by Dr. McAneny and her staff at

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Cafe Lush, and owners Tom Docherty and Sandy Gregory, on the 3rd anniversary of their distinguished local Albuquerque establishment.

Since opening in 2011, Cafe Lush has developed into a thriving business and popular hotspot for locals. Located in downtown Albuquerque, Cafe Lush features an exceptional menu that carries nutrient dense organic food and fresh seasonal produce that promotes happy, healthy, and sustainable lifestyles.

The beautiful street corner cafe, with its vibrant outdoor patio was not always a distinct feature in the neighborhood. In fact, before the establishment of Cafe Lush many restaurants unsuccessfully tried to establish themselves in the area. The location became known as a frequent site for new restaurants that would eventually close, or go out of business.

Despite this historical precedent, and a struggling economy, Cafe Lush launched a business model that appealed to the growing demand for locally grown healthy foods. Cafe Lush's fresh new take on organic ingredients with a New Mexico twist reverberated throughout the community and today the cafe continues to be wildly successful.

Cafe Lush's vision and accomplishments are an inspiration for future generations of entrepreneurs and small business owners, and demonstrate the ability of one business to change an entire neighborhood. Located next to two schools, a place of worship, and just a short walk away from the heart of downtown Albuquerque, Cafe Lush has reinvigorated the area and brought renewed energy to Albuquerque's scenic landscape.

I have no doubt that Cafe Lush will continue to have great success. Their quality food, great customer service, and beautiful outdoor patio are what continue to make me a frequent customer. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Cafe Lush on these accomplishments, their 3rd anniversary and the many more to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Marble Brewery on their achievement during the 2014 World Beer Cup awards.

Twice a year the Brewers Association hosts this prestigious event featuring an array of high-quality beers from across the globe. The 2014 competition was the largest yet, hosting a panel of 219 experts from 31 countries who conducted the blind tasting evaluations and judged 4,754 beers from 1,403 breweries in over 57 countries. Beers were judged in 91 categories ranging from ``Coffee Beer'' to ``Wood- and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer'' with the top three beers receiving gold, silver, and bronze medals.

I am honored to know that Albuquerque, New Mexico's very own Marble Brewery received the Gold in the ``Kellerbier or Zwickelbier'' category, beating out 59 entries from around the world. In 2008, Co- Founders Ted Rice, Jeff Jinnett, and John Gozigian first opened Marble Brewery in downtown Albuquerque, on First Street and Marble Avenue. Their mission then, and still today: to provide bold, hand-crafted ales and lagers to the southwest.

As a small locally owned manufacturing and service business Marble Brewery represents the prosperity of a burgeoning local craft beer industry in New Mexico. In fact, the successes of Marble Brewery can be directly attributed to Livability.com naming Albuquerque, New Mexico the number 1 beer city in the country for their ``Top 10 Beer Cities'' list. Marble Brewery is a testament to the contributions small businesses make to our country and the idea that with hard work and dedication nothing is unattainable.

Not only is Marble Brewery a thriving business in the heart of downtown Albuquerque, but they are an active and engaged partner in our local community. Marble Brewery supports fundraising efforts for dozens of organizations from the Downtown Growers Market, to the Hispanic Cultural Center, the Healthcare for the Homeless, and the Cancer and Lymphoma Society to name a few.

It was President Lincoln, who once said:

I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth,

they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The

great point is to bring them the real facts, and beer.

To this day lawyers, government officials, business leaders, political icons, artists and students continue to enjoy exquisite beers in Marble's friendly atmosphere. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this moment to recognize Marble Brewery for their accomplishments in the 2014 World Beer Cup competition and commitment to our community at large. I am proud to know that we have a great business located in the First Congressional District of New Mexico.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the 377th Air Base Wing located at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico for their continued dedication to our nation's security.

From May 28, 2014 to June 6, 2014, the Air Force Material Command and Defense Threat Reduction Agency Inspector General teams visited Kirtland AFB to evaluate the 377th Air Base Wing's ability to manage nuclear deterrence and global strike resources while complying with strict nuclear surety standards.

Nuclear surety inspections are extremely detailed and demand the highest standards of performance, compliance and accountability. The IG teams methodically evaluated numerous scenarios, special interest items and conducted a formal assessment across the 377th Air Base Wing during their Nuclear Surety Inspection.

Not only did the 377th Air Base Wing complete this demanding inspection successfully, but they received the highest nuclear surety inspection rating possible. The inspectors found that the Airmen of the 377th Air Base Wing demonstrated their ability to ensure the safety, security and reliability of our nation's strategic deterrence capability, all while maintaining extremely high motivation, professionalism, and proficiency throughout the rigorous inspection process.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to personally congratulate the Airmen of the 377th Air Base Wing not just for their stellar completion of this demanding inspection, but more importantly, for the great work they do every day to deter our adversaries, assure our allies and protect the American people.

I thank my colleague for

yielding time, and I commend her and the chairman for their efforts to put together a bipartisan bill and bring it to the floor. I do have a couple of a concerns with the bill that I am addressing today.

First, it provides additional funding for the Waste Isolation Pilot Project in southeastern New Mexico. I am pleased that the committee has seen the need to provide additional funding so that the causes of an incident that occurred earlier this year can be better understood and remedied, but I urge the committee to find a different source of funding for those efforts.

Altering the payment schedules for pension fund payments, I think, is bad fiscal policy. These pension plans face significant liabilities, and they simply cannot afford it.

I am also concerned about the way the bill deals with Laboratory Directed Research and Development, or the LDRD. LDRD is the primary source of funding for fundamental research at our national security laboratories, like Sandia National Laboratories, which is based in my district.

LDRD allows these critical facilities to sustain their mission- essential science and technology capabilities, anticipate and address emerging mission needs, and advance technologies in a wide range of areas critical to national security.

The provision in this bill, coupled with last year's cuts to LDRD, combine to decrease the funds available for this important program by over 20 percent and increase the labs' administrative burden.

In my view, these policy changes will have a negative impact on the labs' ability to conduct critical national security work, and I look forward to continuing to work with the chairman and the ranking member to address both of these issues as the bill moves through the legislative process.

Mr. Speaker, on June 26, 2014, I incorrectly voted ``no'' on the motion to recommit for H.R. 4899 (rollcall vote 367). This was a mistake. I wanted to vote ``yes'' on the motion to recommit for H.R. 4899 and the record should reflect my intent.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 339, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Caraline Sepich, a remarkable woman whose resiliency, dedication and talent continue to define her outstanding achievements as a student at Arizona State University.

On August 31, 2003, Caraline and her family suffered a horrific tragedy that altered the course of their life. Caraline's sister, Katie Sepich, was walking home from a friend's house when she was brutally raped and murdered in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The news of this crime sent a shockwave across the country and Caraline's family prompted the nation to prevent criminals from committing these violent crimes. After years of tireless work by Caraline and her family, President Obama signed into law the ``Katie Sepich Act,'' which authorizes funding for states to collect DNA from detainees arrested on suspicion of serious crimes.

Despite her sister's death, Caraline continues to push forward with an unparalleled passion and drive to effect change everywhere she goes. Caraline graduated from high school as salutatorian in 2012, and the following summer she was a Biofuel Laboratory Intern for the Algal Production Project at the Center of Excellence in Carlsbad. Caraline is now aggressively pursuing a double major in Biochemistry and Biophysics at Arizona State University, is a founding member of the Arizona State University BIOMED Team, and is a recent recipient of a Helios Scholarship for her work in the Collaborative Sequencing Center at the Translational Genomics Research Institute.

Most recently, Caraline was selected into the prestigious Barrett- Mayo Clinic Premedical Scholars Program. There she hopes to further her understanding of medical research, and to

one day obtain her doctorate degree in the field.

Caraline's interest in and commitment to scientific advancement is an inspiration to all those who meet her. At the Arizona Science Center IMAX Theater, Caraline presented Katie's Law to motivate students and demonstrate the ability of one person to make an impact on an entire society. It is individuals like Caraline, whose resolute persistence, determination and resolve to effect meaningful change who truly define our country's values.

Mr. Speaker, I want to take this moment to recognize and honor Caraline Sepich. With her sister forever in her heart, I have no doubt that Caraline will continue to accomplish great things in all her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Cafee Lush, and owners Tom Doherty and Sandy Gregory, on the 3rd anniversary of their distinguished local Albuquerque establishment.

Since opening in 2011, Cafee Lush has developed into a thriving business and popular hotspot for locals. Located in downtown Albuquerque, Cafee Lush features an exceptional menu that carries nutrient dense organic food and fresh seasonal produce that promotes happy, healthy, and sustainable lifestyles.

The beautiful street corner cafee, with its vibrant outdoor patio was not always a distinct feature in the neighborhood. In fact, before the establishment of Cafee Lush many restaurants unsuccessfully tried to establish themselves in the area. The location became known as a frequent site for new restaurants that would eventually close, or go out of business.

Despite this historical precedent, and a struggling economy, Cafee Lush launched a business model that appealed to the growing demand for locally grown healthy foods. Cafee Lush's fresh new take on organic ingredients with a New Mexico twist reverberated throughout the community and today the cafee continues to be wildly successful.

Cafee Lush's vision and accomplishments are an inspiration for future generations of entrepreneurs and small business owners, and demonstrate the ability of one business to change an entire neighborhood. Located next to two schools, a place of worship, and just a short walk away from the heart of downtown Albuquerque, Cafee Lush has reinvigorated the area and brought renewed energy to Albuquerque's scenic landscape.

I have no doubt that Cafee Lush will continue to have great success. Their quality food, great customer service, and beautiful outdoor patio are what continue to make me a frequent customer. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Cafee Lush on these accomplishments, their 3rd anniversary and the many more to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ronda R. Clayton, the 2011 recipient of the New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence's Rural Practice Nurse of the Year Award.

In 1991, Ronda completed her Bachelor of Science and began her honorable career as a healthcare practitioner in New Mexico. For over 20 years, Ronda has dedicated this time to serving the people of Artesia, New Mexico through her tireless work at Artesia General Hospital, a small, 49-bed, rural hospital.

Serving as a healthcare provider in a rural community invariably means becoming a ``jack of all trades'' and Ronda exemplifies this characteristic every day she walks through the Artesia General Hospital doors. As the Director of Pharmacy she provides clinical expertise in pharmacy to hospital nurses and medical staff, she develops strategies to move the Department's skill base and technology forward, and she works with patients in the Intensive Care Unit, following up on patients long after they are discharged from the hospital.

With a singular commitment to patient-focused care Ronda took the initiative to develop a program in which patient medication, laboratory and microbiology values, and diagnosis are assessed repeatedly to ensure efficiency. Ronda is everything to everyone--as a co-worker she shows genuine interest in staff development, as a practitioner she takes extra measures to ensure patients, physicians, and staff are well taken care of, and as a respected member of her hospital, she values the opinions of others and looks for ways to contribute back to her community.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my appreciation to Nurse Clayton for spending so much of her career inspiring young nurses and other healthcare professionals to continue serving rural communities with the same level of passion and commitment that she has shown throughout her years. Ronda is an exemplary New Mexico healthcare success story, and serves as a role model for future generations of healthcare professionals. Ronda's receipt of the Rural Practice Nurse of the Year Award was not only well-deserved, but long overdue.