Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Solano Irrigation District on their 75th anniversary of serving our community.

Seventy-five years ago, the Solano Irrigation District (SID) sought to secure irrigation water from the Solano Water Project. This marked the beginning of a journey filled with challenges, achievements, and the steadfast pursuit of excellence. Since then, the district has played a pivotal role in providing vital resources to our community.

Today, the Solano Irrigation District stands as a cornerstone of our region's prosperity, delivering 141,000 acre-feet of irrigation water to over 59,000 acres of irrigable land. Not only does it supply bulk untreated water to a population of more than 300,000, including the cities of Benicia, Vacaville, Fairfield, and Vallejo, but it also treats and delivers drinking water to Suisun City, ensuring the well- being of our residents.

Unlike many other districts, SID does not need to import any water for its customers, thanks to its foresight in securing valuable water rights and access through `The Solano Project.' This forward-thinking approach has made our district financially stable and well-managed, providing cost-efficient services while maintaining stable water rates.

Furthermore, the innovative spirit of the Solano Irrigation District is exemplified by the hydroelectric power plant at the base of Monticello Dam, a pioneering project that has set a remarkable precedent for local agencies across the United States.

The Solano Irrigation District has not only been a guardian of water resources but also a catalyst for progress and growth in our community. Its tireless efforts have made SID into a beacon of excellence, ensuring a prosperous future for Solano County.

Mr. Speaker, the Solano Irrigation District has been serving our residential and agricultural communities faithfully for 75 years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to hundreds of United States Army veterans who are gathering in and around our nation's capital the week of September 25, 2023, to join in reunion of their graduation from the Noncommissioned Officers Candidate Course (NCOCC).

The program was established for the training of noncommissioned officers in the U.S. Army. The program operated at Fort Benning, GA, Fort Bliss, TX, Fort Knox, KY, Fort Sill, OK, and Fort Leonard Wood, MO, from 1967 to 1972, during the height of the Vietnam War. As a proud graduate of the program and fellow Vietnam War veteran, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and saluting these leaders, combat veterans--many of them wounded--and unsung heroes.

As the Vietnam War progressed in the 1960s, the Army was running out of noncommissioned officers in several combat specialties. In order to meet these unprecedented requirements for Noncommissioned Officer

(NCO) leaders, the Army developed a solution based on the proven Officer Candidate Course. If a carefully selected soldier can be given 23 weeks of intensive training that would qualify him to lead a platoon, then others can be trained to lead squads and fire teams in the same amount of time. From this seed, the NCOCC was born.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Harold K. Johnson approved the concept on June 22, 1967, and on September 5, the first course at Fort Benning (now Fort Moore), Georgia, began with Sgt. Maj. Don Wright serving as the first NCOCC Commandant.

Potential candidates for the course were selected from groups of initial entry soldiers who had a security clearance of confidential, an infantry score of 100 or over, and demonstrated leadership potential. Based on recommendations, the unit commander would select potential NCOs, but all were not volunteers. Those selected to attend NCOCC were immediately made corporals and later promoted to sergeant upon graduation from phase one. The select few who graduated with honors would be promoted to staff sergeant. The outstanding graduate of the first class, Staff Sgt. Melvin C. Leverick, recalled ``I think that those who graduated [from the NCOCC] were much better prepared for some of the problems that would arise in Vietnam.'' The NCO candidate course was designed to maximize the two-year tour of the enlisted draftee.

Though over 300 hours of instruction was given, eighty percent was conducted in the field. The final basic phase was a ``dress rehearsal for Vietnam,'' a full week of patrols, ambush, defensive perimeters, and navigation. Twice daily, the Vietnam-schooled rangers critiqued the candidates, and all training was conducted tactically.

These men, many now of advanced age, served our country with great honor under challenging circumstances. Four were awarded the Medal of Honor. Six are still missing. Many--1,118 in all--never made it home.

Mr. Speaker, it is evident that these outstanding noncommissioned officers and combat veterans were an indispensable part of our armed forces and served our country with bravery, dedication, and honor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Michele Grupe, for her dedicated service at the Cope Family Center. She served as the executive director since 2017 and as part of the leadership of the organization since 2004.

Ms. Grupe received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Maryland and is a certified fund-raising executive. Inspired to give children their best possible start in life, Ms. Grupe served as a leader and fundamental member of the organization Cope, where she has worked to empower parents, nurture children, and strengthen communities.

Cope Family Center is a Napa Valley nonprofit dedicated to preventing child abuse and support families by providing parents with the education and resources they need to raise thriving children. Throughout her time at Cope, Ms. Grupe has built coalitions between social service agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community members. Her work has created systemic change and a more resilient community for Napa Valley's children and families.

Ms. Grupe's commitment to service and her strong work ethic goes beyond her time at Cope. Her efforts to strengthen Napa County families and build a more equitable family-support system requires hard work in the face of adversity. She has served as the co-chair for the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Napa County, commissioner of the First 5 Napa County Commission, chair of the Greater Bay Area Child Abuse Prevention Council, Steering Committee Member for the Community Leaders Coalition, and member of the California Family Resource Center Policy Committee. She has also demonstrated her commitment to social justice by volunteering for campaigns and initiatives.

Ms. Grupe has been a force for good in our community. Her commitment to the well-being of her staff, her collaborative partners, and our community has been unfailing.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with my colleagues John Garamendi and Doris Matsui, to honor the life and legacy of Yolo County Supervisor Gary Sandy. Supervisor Sandy grew up in Vacaville, California and lived in Woodland. California for nearly 40 years where he devoted his life to public service.

Supervisor Sandy graduated from Sonoma State University ``With Distinction'' in 1985 and was later awarded the prestigious Coro Foundation Fellowship in Public Affairs. Supervisor Sandy also received a master's degree in organizational development from the University of San Francisco and completed the University of California, Davis Executive Program.

Supervisor Sandy has been active in our community for decades. He served as a member of the Woodland City Council from 1989 through 1996 and was mayor of the City of Woodland from 1994 through 1996. Between 2010 and 2018, Supervisor Sandy was a trustee for the Yuba Community College District, where he was twice elected president of the board. In 2018, he was elected to the Yolo County Board of Supervisors for District 3; and in 2020, Mr. Sandy served as the chair to the board during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He was a treasured member of our community who advocated for matters of mental health, homelessness, agricultural land preservation, economic development, and education. Supervisor Sandy was a leading voice as the chair to the Yolo County Housing Commission and assisted in the creation of Yolo County's Commission to Address Homelessness supporting countywide policy, strategy, and funding recommendations to address homelessness and housing issues. Mr. Sandy was a leader in promoting practices and technologies that aid in water conservation. He furthered these initiatives as a representative to the Yolo County Water Resources Association and the Yolo Subbasin Groundwater Agency.

Supervisor Sandy's colleagues remembered him as a kind, wise, and personable man. His gift was not in what he had to say, but rather in the way he made you feel. Supervisor Sandy brought a sense of warmth and humor into every conversation he had. We will miss his friendship and unwavering support.

Beyond his work, Supervisor Sandy was deeply devoted to his family. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Mary, his children, Owen, Grayson, and Bayley, his grandchildren, and his sister, Shirley. Supervisor Sandy will be remembered for his love of his family and the people he served.

Mr. Speaker, Gary Sandy was a dedicated public servant and leader in our community.

Mister Speaker, I rise today along with my colleague Congressman Jared Huffman to honor Gaye Theresa LeBaron in celebration of her outstanding career as a journalist, teacher, author and historian.

Born in the town of Scotia, California, in 1935, Mrs. LeBaron moved to Boyes Hots Springs in Sonoma County when she was 14 years old. She attended Santa Rosa Junior College before transferring to the University of California, Berkeley to pursue a bachelor's degree in English and History.

Her illustrious career as an historian and human-interest columnist at the Press Democrat in Santa Rosa, California, began in 1955 when she became an intern. During her 65 years with the Press Democrat as a reporter and later columnist, she wrote 8,500 columns, married her late husband John LeBaron and had her 2 children, Suzanne and Tony. Mrs. LeBaron has since gifted her research notes, correspondence, memoirs, unpublished documents, newspaper clippings and photographs to Sonoma State University. Students and the public enjoy access to the Gaye LeBaron Collection.

Mrs. LeBaron has a deep love of Sonoma County history. She told our county's story as a lecturer at the Santa Rosa Junior College for 35 years as well as at Sonoma State University's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. She has written 3 books on the history of Santa Rosa: Santa Rosa: A Nineteenth Century Town, Santa Rosa: A Twentieth Century Town, and The Wonder Seekers of Fountaingrove. Mrs. LeBaron also served on the Sonoma County Museum Leadership Council, further dedicating herself to the history of Sonoma County. Now her permanent exhibit at the museum, Sonoma County Stories, will ensure future generations can experience her life's work.

Widely renowned in our community, Mrs. LeBaron received the Representative Mike Thompson Sonoma County Woman of the Year Award in 2016, an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Sonoma State University and a President's Medallion from the Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation.

Mr. Speaker, it is evident that Mrs. LeBaron has dedicated her life to the people of Sonoma County through her writing, teaching and service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor KBBF and the Bilingual Broadcasting Foundation to recognize their 50 years of providing reliable, bilingual public radio for the North Bay.

The Bilingual Broadcasting Foundation was founded in 1971 with KBBF's first broadcast airing in 1973. Spurred on by the Chicano movement, KBBF's founders pioneered a new model to engage our entire community in all public broadcastings benefits of education, culture, and news access. KBBF is the first bilingual, bicultural radio station in the United States of America. Today, the station reaches five million households and specializes in English, Spanish, and several indigenous languages. Of their many listeners, one million are from primarily Spanish-speaking households.

Since 1973, KBBF has been primarily run by volunteers. Their team remains a critical source of information for many Spanish-speaking members of our community. In 2017, when numerous wildfires devastated Sonoma and Napa Counties, KBBF was instrumental in helping to translate lifesaving evacuation guidance for Spanish-speaking residents of our region who were seeking critical public safety news.

In recognition of their decades of work, KBBF was honored with the 2020 Silver Heart Award by the Northern California Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. The station has been a vital resource of information and services for the Latino community. KBBF is vital in increasing access to information at the local, state, and national level.

Mr. Speaker, it is evident that that, for half a century, KBBF has been an outstanding public broadcasting service for our multilingual population in Northern California.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to submit extraneous material into the Record.

Mr. Speaker, gun violence is the leading cause of death for American children.

Let me repeat that: Gun violence is the leading cause of death for our kids. It is shameful that every Member in

this body knows that guns are used to kill our kids and the Republican majority is refusing to take any action to stop this epidemic.

Parents are scared to send their kids to school. They are worried that it may be the last time they see them alive. Kids are being impacted by active-shooter drills and are scared to death that their school will be the next site of a school shooting.

The Gun Violence Prevention Task Force is leading efforts in Congress to compel our Republican colleagues to bring gun violence prevention measures up for a vote.

The American people are with us on this. The only place that gun violence prevention is a partisan issue is right here in this Congress.

A recent FOX News poll shows that the American people overwhelmingly support gun violence prevention measures, 87 percent support universal background checks, 81 percent support raising the legal age to purchase firearms to 21, 80 percent support red flag laws, and in this same FOX poll, 61 percent support banning assault weapons.

It is time for the House Republicans to join House Democrats in prioritizing saving our kids. Democrats took an important first step in the last Congress when President Biden signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was the first major gun violence prevention bill signed in 30 years. There is still more work to do.

We are here this evening to shine a spotlight on the failure of the Republicans to join us in support of policies that will save lives. The Republican leadership's callous inaction is contributing to a mass casualty every day in our country. There have been more mass shootings this year than there have been days in the year.

As a combat veteran, a hunter, and a gun owner, not one Republican can tell me that background checks interfere with our Second Amendment.

When debating background checks, we have definitively refuted every tired Republican excuse time and time again. Republicans have countered with an even more callous response: They respond to every death with deafening silence.

The Gun Violence Prevention Task Force will continue our work to hold Republicans accountable for their obstruction. The leading cause of death of our children and teens demands our attention, and we are demanding that the House pass legislation to help save lives.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Crow), my friend and colleague from Colorado, and an Army Ranger who was deployed in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania, Mary Gay Scanlon.

Mr. Speaker, I would just remind you that guns are the leading cause of death for children in the United States of America, and we are here today because we can do something about it.

If you look at this other chart, it clearly points out that, again, firearms are the leading cause of death. However, if you look at other factors, the second, motor vehicle accidents, look at the steep decline in the loss of lives from motor vehicle accidents.

It is because we did something. We passed laws, we made cars safer, we reduced the number of children who were killed in automobile accidents by taking action on this floor, and it is shameful that the Republican leadership will not allow us to do that today to curb children's death by gun violence.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Auchincloss).

Mr. Speaker, can you give us any idea when the Republican leadership will bring bills to deal with gun violence prevention to the floor for a vote?

I didn't think so.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Scholten).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Foushee).

Mr. Speaker, the gentlewoman mentioned that our Republican colleagues aren't doing anything in regard to guns. It is actually worse than that. They have done something. The Republicans passed a bill, a gun bill, off this floor this year. Their bill would make this gun legal.

Short-barreled rifles have been regulated by the National Firearms Act for decades. They are regulated because they are incredibly dangerous, they are easy to conceal, and they are deadly accurate. They are used in crimes. They are responsible for the deaths of many, many people, and they have been tightly regulated.

The Republicans in this House passed a bill that makes this gun legal. They call it an arm brace. ``Arm brace'' is just another way of saying you are putting a stock on a semiautomatic assault pistol, so you are making it a short-barreled assault rifle. It is lethal. It is immoral. Everyone who voted for that bill and the leadership who brought it to this floor for a vote should be ashamed of themselves.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Tlaib).

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining?

Mr. Speaker, 30 people every day are killed by someone using a gun. If you add accidental deaths and suicides, that number jumps up to 100 people per day. It costs the American taxpayers roughly $600 billion every year. Gun violence costs almost $600 billion every year. Communities across our country are upended. We already heard that there have been more mass shootings this year than there have been days of the year.

Police officers across the country are taking ghost guns off the streets every single day, guns that can be purchased as a kit so they don't need a background check and they are unserialized. These are guns that are used a lot in crime. Cops are taking them off the streets every day.

This is a serious problem. Our communities are hurting. People are being killed. We need to take action. The Republican leadership in this House needs to bring gun violence prevention legislation to the floor so we can vote it out and help keep our communities safer.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. DeSaulnier).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Schneider).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his remarks.

Mr. Speaker, tonight, members of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force have made clear the terrible cost of gun violence on our kids, families, schools, and communities.

We have talked about sad milestones. In 2020, guns became the leading killer of kids in America after overtaking motor vehicle accidents.

Another dark milestone has been the 389 mass shootings already this year. We have had more mass shootings by mid-July this year than we had in all of 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.

We know it doesn't have to be this way. We know that States with the most gun violence prevention laws have half the death rate for children and teenagers compared to States with the least gun violence prevention laws. The States can't do it alone.

These weak national gun safety laws make it much too easy for people who are a danger to themselves or a danger to others to access guns regardless of where they live.

According to the ATF gun-tracing database, the largest source of out- of-State guns used in crimes in my home State of California is Arizona, a State with over twice the gun death rate whose gun laws are rated an

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her remarks, her good work on gun violence prevention efforts, and her dedication to making sure that we pass the laws that will keep our kids and our communities safe.

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned earlier, we have had Army combat veterans, Marine Corps combat veterans, hunters, gun owners, gun collectors, and moms and dads on this floor tonight asking and pleading with the Republican leadership to allow gun violence prevention legislation to come to this floor for debate and for a vote.

Mr. Speaker, can you give us any idea when your leadership will be bringing gun violence prevention bills to the floor for action?

Sadly, that is what I was afraid of. Silence. Just like after every mass shooting, silence.

There has to be an effort on the part of this leadership to deal with this issue that is disrupting communities and leading to thousands and thousands of deaths.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Anita Oberholster, a renowned member of our community who has been chosen to receive the prestigious Yolo American Dream Award for California's Fourth Congressional District. This award honors immigrants who have excelled professionally, through entrepreneurship and innovation, in the arts and culture, or through community service. Dr. Oberholster's exceptional research and philanthropic activities make her a very deserving recipient of this recognition.

Dr. Oberholster was born in South Africa, where she received a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Chemistry and an honors degree in Chemistry from Stellenbosch University. She then went to Australia to earn a Ph.D. in Wine Science from the University of Adelaide in South Australia in 2008. She moved to the United States in 2011 to work at University of California, Davis as a cooperative extension specialist, professor of extension. There she became a vital member of our community through her research in finding solutions to problems plaguing the wine industry.

Dr. Oberholster has been a board member of the American Society of Viticulture and Enology for 6 years and is currently the 2nd vice- president of the society. Additionally, Dr. Oberholster has also worked as the secretary of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture Foundation (ASEV) which fundraises to give scholarships to viticulture and enology students. Furthermore, she is a member of the LLC Management Committee which works to organize the Unified Grape and Wine Symposium. She is currently the chair of the coordination and extension committee that is responsible for the Department of Viticulture and Enology Extension and Outreach activities. Previously, she was the chair of the Viticulture and Enology graduate group and worked as an advisor to incoming students.

Dr. Oberholster is now the vice-chair of the Department of Viticulture and Enology and is doing important research to benefit the grape and wine communities. She focuses on the challenges the grape and wine industries are dealing with, including Grapevine Red Blotch Disease and the impact of smoke from wildfires on grape and wine quality. Dr. Oberholster prioritizes sustainability and works to help our wine community through methods such as improving the quality of winery wastewater recycling methods.

Mr. Speaker, Dr. Oberholster's research and contributions to our wine community, and work to help students has greatly enriched our Yolo community. Her readiness to help others is evident in her impactful work at University of California, Davis and the ASEV Foundation. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor her here today with the Yolo American Dream Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Michael Wolf of Wolf Vineyard services, who was named the 2023 Napa Valley Agriculturalist of the Year by the Napa County Farm Bureau. He is being honored for his lifelong contributions to Napa Valley agriculture, commitment to community service and his contributions to the Napa County Farm Bureau.

Mr. Wolf was born in New York and moved to California after graduating from Alfred University with a bachelor of arts degree in history from Alfred University. Mr. Wolf is a treasured member of the Napa community as he has held numerous leadership positions and continues to put the interests of others first.

Mr. Wolf has generously contributed to the Napa community as the founder of the Ag Health Benefits Scholarship Foundation that provides advancement opportunities for members of the Ag Health Benefits Alliance through education in agriculture or other fields. Mr. Wolf served as a past Chairman and current Trustee of the Ag Health Benefits Alliance. He serves as the Director of the Napa Valley Farmworkers where he has been a long-term supporter of their mission to support and promote vineyard workers through education and professional development.

In addition to supporting educational opportunities in agriculture, Mr. Wolf is a loyal professional member of the American Society of Enology and Viticulture and a member of the Napa Valley Wine Technical Group. He also served as the past Director and President of the Napa County Farm Bureau.

Mr. Wolf's support and hard work extends beyond agriculture. He is a continued supporter of the Queen of the Valley and St. Helena Hospital Foundations to help support a strong health care system in our community. In addition, Mr. Wolf aids the COPE Family Center that provides parenting education and a variety of family support services in Napa as well as OLE Health, a nonprofit health center serving vulnerable populations in and around Napa County.

Mr. Speaker, Michael Wolf has made immense contributions to agriculture and the Napa County Farm Bureau. There is no doubt that Mr. Wolf has been a dedicated advocate for the Napa Valley community. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor him here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Gilbert Rangel, Jr., a

renowned member of our community who has been chosen to receive the prestigious American Dream Award for California's Fourth Congressional District. This award honors people who come to the United States and have excelled professionally, through entrepreneurship and innovation, in the arts and culture, or through community service.

Mr. Rangel grew up in his family's home in Guadalajara, Mexico. He is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree business entrepreneurship. He is married to Janeth Perez, with whom he has 4 children. Mr. Rangel's life has been a constant migration between California and Mexico, during which he has made significant contributions to his communities.

Mr. Rangel began his career in San Joaquin County in migrant student educational services before being appointed by the Office of Governor Schwarzenegger to aid in the development of AmeriCorps in California. He continued his work under Governor Brown and was then recruited by the Lake County Office of Education to implement a local AmeriCorps program. Mr. Rangel provided support to emergency services and translations for the Spanish speaking community during the wildfires between 2015 and 2020. In 2022, he joined Lake County Tribal Health to implement health education programs.

Mr. Rangel serves as a Board Member for the Kelseyville Unified School District and as an advisor to the Middletown Arts Center. Mr. Rangel founded his company, Equilingual, in 2021 with the mission of achieving equity through language and supporting communications between local organizations and the Spanish speaking community. Mr. Rangel's connection to both the United States and Mexico has given him a unique perspective that has enabled him to have a positive impact in communities across California.

Mr. Speaker, we recognize Mr. Gilbert Rangel, Jr. for his achievements and for enriching our community. He has demonstrated resolve in his ability to reacclimate throughout his life, channeling the experience of living between Mexico and the United States into a central aspect of his identity. It is fitting and proper that we honor him here today with the American Dream Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Linsey Gallagher, who was named the 2023 Friend of Agriculture by the Napa County Farm Bureau. Ms. Gallagher is being honored for her substantial contribution to Napa Valley agriculture through fostering meaningful partnerships with agriculture and Napa's tourism and hospitality sectors that have produced tangible benefits for the Napa Valley agricultural community.

Ms. Gallagher was born and raised in a rural agricultural community in Vermont. She earned her bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Vermont and went on to earn her master's degree in business administration from Northwestern University's Kellog School of Management.

In addition to Ms. Gallagher's role as the President and CEO of Visit Napa Valley, she also serves in several leadership positions across the Napa Valley community. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Napa Valley Vine Trail, Napa Green, the California Travel Association, Visit California and the Children's Museum of Napa Valley. Ms. Gallagher was also a graduate of the Leadership Napa Valley program, which has been operating for the last 35 years.

As a natural collaborator, Ms. Gallagher partnered with wine and agriculture industries to accelerate tourism recovery and contribute to residents' quality of life and the Napa Valley community's economic resilience. She took the lead on hospitality industry recovery in Napa Valley after the pandemic and devastating wildfires.

When she is not working in the community, Ms. Gallagher enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband Lon and their 2 children, Harlow and Logan.

Mr. Speaker, Linsey Gallagher is deeply appreciated for her dedication to promoting tourism in the Napa community and advocating for local agriculture. There is no doubt that Ms. Gallagher has been a dedicated leader in Napa County and beyond. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor her here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Ronaldo Herrera, a renowned member of our community who has been chosen to receive the prestigious American Dream Award for California's 4th Congressional District. This award honors immigrants who have excelled professionally, through entrepreneurship and innovation, in the arts and culture, or through community service. Mr. Herrera is a very deserving recipient of this honor.

Mr. Herrera was born in El Llano, Mexico and moved to St. Helena in 1972 along with his family. After briefly returning to Mexico when his father retired, Mr. Herrera returned to St. Helena at the age of 15 where he started working as a dishwasher at Auberge du Soleil at night while also going to high school full time. Following graduation, he started as a harvest laborer at Stag's Leap Wine Cellars and over the next 10 years he worked his way up to cellar master for respected winemaker Warren Winiarski. Mr. Herrera then began holding significant positions at other nearby wineries including assistant winemaker at Chateau Potelle, winemaker at Vine Cliff Winery and director of winemaking at Paul Hobbs Consulting.

In 1997, Ronaldo made 200 cases of Chardonnay as a ``side project'' and Mi Sueno (Spanish for `My Dream') was born. Over the next 26 years, Mr. Herrera and his wife, Lorena Herrera, have come to be recognized as one of the great independently owned and operated wine producers in California with the tremendous honor of having 3 of Mi Sueno's wines served at the White House by President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama.

Mr. Herrera has been a role model for his community. He has generously contributed his time and resources to a number of community organizations in the Napa Valley, including the Napa Valley Vintners, and is a founding member of the Mexican American Vintners Association.

Mr. Herrera's outstanding accomplishments go beyond his work. Mr. Herrera is a loving husband and father who has the highest standards of ethics. Mr. Herrera's love for winemaking and dedication to his communities have made him a priceless addition to the Napa Valley and an inspiration to all.

Mr. Speaker, we recognize Mr. Ronaldo Herrera for his achievements and for enriching our community. We honor him here today with the American Dream Award, as his accomplishments and service to our community are a testament to the American Dream.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Senator Bill Dodd, who was recognized by the Napa County Farm Bureau with the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award. Senator Dodd is presented with this award for his effectiveness in resolving public policy issues and consistent dedication to Napa County and the Napa County Farm Bureau.

Senator Dodd was born and raised on a small farm in Napa. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in business administration from California State University, Chico. During college he was involved in student government, serving on the Policy Advisory Board and as president of the Inter-Fraternity Council. Before being elected to the State Senate, he owned and operated one of the largest full-service Culligan Water operations in California and served as president of the water quality industry's state and national trade associations. In 1985, he was elected President of the Pacific Water Quality Association (PWQA) and in 1994 he was elected to National Water Quality Association (WQA). During his tenure, the industry embraced third-party certification of water treatment products and lobbied in Sacramento on important legislation to protect consumers.

ln 2000, Senator Dodd was elected to the Napa County Board of Supervisors. During his service, he helped complete the Napa flood control project--which protects thousands of properties from flooding-- restored 900 acres of environmental wetlands and secured $1 billion in investment for local businesses. After 14 years on the Board of Supervisors, he was elected to the California State Assembly where he worked to help small businesses, protect the environment, and support seniors and working families. He advanced a balanced, sustainable budget that invests in our state's education system from preschool through higher education. Senator Dodd also helped establish the state's Earned Income Tax Credit, promoted career technical education, and supported the creation of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument that preserved over 330,000 acres of the California Coast Ranges in Napa, Yolo, Solano, Lake, Colusa, Glenn and Mendocino counties.

After a year in the Assembly, Senator Dodd was elected to the California State Senate, representing California's 3rd district which encompasses all of Napa, Solano, and Yolo counties and portions of Contra Costa, Sonoma, and Sacramento counties. He serves as the chair of the Senate Governmental Organization Committee and is a co-chair of the Senate Select Committee on California's Wine Industry and the Legislative Delta Caucus. Senator Dodd's work has covered many topics from improving public education and the environment to data privacy and protecting seniors. He has established himself as 1 of the most prolific lawmakers in our state, writing 99 bills that have been signed into law. In addition, he has been a leader on wildfire safety and prevention legislation, writing numerous bills to protect Californians from future fires and accompanying utility rate hikes.

When he is not at the State Capitol, Senator Dodd enjoys spending time with his wife Mary and their 5 children and 12 grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, Senator Dodd is deeply appreciated for his dedication to solving policy issues. There is no doubt that Senator Dodd has been a dedicated advocate for Napa County and beyond. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor him here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Madhulika Singh, whom I have selected to receive the American Dream Award for California's 4th Congressional District. This award recognizes the achievements of immigrants in my district who have made remarkable contributions to our communities in the areas of Arts and Culture, Professional Achievement, Entrepreneurship and Innovation or Community Service. Ms. Singh is very deserving of this award and recognition.

Ms. Singh was born in New Delhi, India, and moved to the United States to receive her master's degree in electrical engineering from Yale University. She earned 2 additional master's degrees in business administration and information management from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Ms. Singh is the first person in her family to make a life for herself in the United States, and she credits her success to her strong educational foundation and family relationships.

Ms. Singh is deeply involved in her community and holds numerous volunteer positions. She has volunteered as a phone operator with Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence and as a speaker for the Role Model Program in at-risk schools in and around San Jose. Immigrant role models of color like Ms. Singh are essential in offering students diverse perspectives and uplifting the voices of underrepresented communities.

She is Co-founder and President of the PreetiRange Sanctuary in Solano County where she devotes her efforts to animal rights in California and beyond. PreetiRange hosts the annual University of California, Davis People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty through Education event, partners with the Jain Community of Northern California for a program that teaches young people about having compassion towards animals and partners with the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas at Ukiah, CA, for annual liberation of animals.

Ms. Singh understands that education is a key to success and is dedicated to bettering our community at home and around the world via education. She has conducted India Culture and Traditions seminars for schoolteachers to spread awareness and support the ongoing professional enhancement of teachers. Her animal sanctuary participates in Pena Adobe Historical Society's outreach program, which is an invaluable educational resource in her community. Her support of the India Literacy Project and her time visiting nonformal education centers illustrates her beliefs that education should be available to everyone.

When she is not fiercely advocating for animal rights or issues that affect the Indian community, Ms. Singh enjoys spending time with her husband Michael and their 4 children, Brian, Madhur, Rebecca and Manisha.

Mr. Speaker, we recognize Madhulika Singh for her achievements and for enriching our community. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor her here today with the American Dream Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Cori Carlson, who was named 2023 Member of the Year by the Napa County Farm Bureau for her work with wildfire mitigation efforts and her contribution to agriculture education across our county.

Born in Vallejo, California, Ms. Carlson's upbringing on a farm influenced her decision to make agriculture a central part of her life. Growing up, she experienced 2 different fires that threatened the homes and livelihoods of her family, friends and community. This reshaped her focus within agriculture to specialize in wildfire prevention through grazing.

Ms. Carlson received a bachelor of animal science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and went on to receive her master of science in nursing leadership from Sonoma State University. Throughout her life she has developed a passion for educating her peers, colleagues and future generations. Ms. Carlson educated elementary school students through farm education field days as well as organized events around agriculture and wildfire prevention for the greater community. She also contributed to a pilot program to bring in community partners and expand the reach of 4-H programs in Napa County.

Beyond her work in agriculture and education, Ms. Carlson started a Paramedic to Nurse Bridge program in Napa in order to develop strong nursing candidates and open a career pathway for Emergency Medical Service professionals. She also served as the Emergency Services and Trauma Manager at Queen of the Valley Hospital and the Paramedic Program Director at Napa Valley College.

Currently, Ms. Carlson owns Napa Pasture Protein, a contract grazing and farming company and bolds several leadership positions within the community. She serves as the Chair of the Napa County 4-H Project Learning and Development Committee, the 4-H Oak and Vine Community Club Leader. the Paramedic to Nurse Bridge Coordinator at Pacific Union College and as a volunteer firefighter at the Napa County Fire Capell Station.

Mr. Speaker, Cori Carlson is deeply appreciated for her leadership to support wildfire mitigation efforts. Therefore, it is fitting that we honor her accomplishments today.