Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today, along with my colleague, Rep. John Garamendi, to honor Touro University California on its 25th anniversary.

Touro University California is a graduate medical school with over 6,000 alumni. Founded in 1997, it offers programs in Pharmacy, Physician Assistance, Public Health, Nursing, Education, Osteopathic Medicine, and Medical Health Sciences. Touro University California has made a massive difference in the community, with over 55 percent of the School of Education graduates serving within 55 miles of the university and more than 80 percent of School of Nursing graduates serving locally within Solano County. Touro University California provides scholarships to underrepresented minority students from disadvantaged backgrounds, improving education and health for all. It currently has about 1,400 students and 100 faculty members. Touro University California has graduated more primary care physicians than any other university in the state.

In addition to proving excellent education, Touro University California is also committed to serving our community. It provides free health screenings through its Mobile Diabetes Education Center and Pharma2Home Initiative, as well as running more than 125 free community clinics that have delivered over 5,200 vaccines. These clinics both help community members and give students an opportunity to get clinical hours and patient experience.

Touro University California works with many community service programs to provide a variety of support to the community. Those programs include: Student-Run Free Clinic, Social Justice Series, Drug Safe Solano, Project Happy, Biotech Academy/Teen Life Conference, and many more. It has delivered over 3,000 books to local children, working to ensure that Solano's children are not only physically healthy but also mentally healthy.

Madam Speaker, Touro University California provides an invaluable service to the community. It is, therefore, fitting and proper that we honor it here today.

Madam Speaker, I rise today, along with my colleague, Rep. John Garamendi, to honor former Congresswoman Shelley Berkley for her outstanding service as the Executive Officer and Senior Provost of Touro University California. The Honorable Ms. Berkley has been engaged in her community for her entire life. As the first person to attend college in her family, Ms. Berkley earned her undergraduate degree from University of Nevada, Las Vegas and her law degree from the University of San Diego.

Ms. Berkley served on the Nevada Board of Representatives, where she oversaw the rapid expansion of higher education, simultaneously developing new schools and ensuring that tuition stayed low. In 1998, she was elected to Congress, where she went on to serve for 14 years. During her time in the House of Representatives, she served on the Transportation Committee, Veterans Affairs Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, and the Ways and Means Committee. She worked on 114 pieces of legislation related to healthcare and worked to build the new Veterans Administration medical complex in Southern Nevada. While she was passionate about healthcare, her work did not stop there. She collaborated with members of the European Parliament on issues affecting the entire Transatlantic Alliance.

Since leaving Congress, Ms. Berkley has continued to work hard to give back to her community. In her time at Touro University California she has overseen two of the fastest growing medical schools in the United States. Under her leadership, the university has graduated hundreds of physicians, nurses, therapists and pharmacists each year. In addition to her work at Touro University, she also serves on numerous local and national boards, including: the Anti-Defamation League, Patient Pals, National Osteoporosis Foundation, the Israel Project, and European Leadership Network.

Madam Speaker, former Congresswoman Shelley Berkley has been a dedicated and passionate public servant. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor her here today.

Madam Speaker, I am joined with Speaker Pelosi as we rise to honor Patric Powell and celebrate the 45th anniversary of his floral business, Bloomers. He is an inspiring leader in the community, creating both beauty and change through his work at Bloomers.

Born in St. Helena and eventually moving to San Francisco, Mr. Powell has always been passionate about flowers. His first job working after school was at a St. Helena flower shop, and when he moved, he continued to work in flower shops across San Francisco. In 1977, he established Bloomers. The small florist shop was originally located on Sacramento Street, eventually moving to its permanent location on Washington Street. Now, it occupies a pre-earthquake building constructed in 1900. Overtime, Bloomers has evolved to include ribbons, baskets, antiques, and even a gallery area for artists and authors to share their works. Bloomers is a beloved community asset and resource.

Under Mr. Powell's leadership, Bloomers has regularly contributed to a variety of local non-profit organizations. These past 45 years, Mr. Powell has demonstrated a remarkable dedication to serving his community. Beyond non-profit work, Bloomers is a full participant in multiple life cycle events, resulting in multiple generations of families becoming loyal patrons of the shop.

Bloomers' excellence goes beyond the customer experience. The staff are equally impressive. Their long tenures at the store exemplify this, with three employees serving for 30+ years, 2 for 20+ years, and 1 for 15+ years. This longevity is a testament to Mr. Powell's inspired leadership and the care with which the business is operated and managed.

In addition to being a successful business owner, Mr. Powell is a devoted husband to his wife, Mary, a proud father to his children, Blair and Alex, and loving grandfather to Zoe, Luke, Mathilda and Lucie.

Madam Speaker, Patric Powell works incredibly hard for the individuals and community he serves. He and his store, Bloomers, have been a remarkable part of San Francisco for over 45 years. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor him and his staff here today.

Madam Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 5376, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

I am particularly pleased that the legislation before the House includes major provisions of my GREEN Act, including incentives for a vast array of clean and renewable energy sources.

This legislation represents the most sweeping and ambitious climate policy ever to pass the Congress.

It reduces our dependence on fossil fuels while accelerating the development of solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources.

And it incentivizes individuals to limit greenhouse gas emissions from their homes, their businesses, and their vehicles.

I am also extremely supportive of the health care provisions in this bill.

Allowing Medicare to negotiate the price of prescription drugs has been a priority for Democrats in Congress for decades--and this bill not only ensures that seniors don't go broke paying for their medicines, but also saves taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars.

Given the negotiations of the past 18 months, this bill could not accommodate every single priority or proposal.

And I am hopeful that my colleagues will work with me moving forward to ensure that the corporate minimum tax--a policy I support--does not inadvertently burden companies, like some in my district, who suffered severe net operating losses in previous years due to natural disaster.

This bill is a tremendous step forward for our country. It pays down our deficit, reduces the cost of prescription drugs, extends health insurance subsidies for low-income Americans and invests hundreds of billions of dollars in clean and renewable energy.

I am proud to have helped author this legislation, and I strongly support its passage.

Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5118, the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act.

Our communities have been hit hard by wildfires year after year. During the 2017 wildfire season, 44 people were killed and nearly 5,000 people lost their homes. Five years later, our communities are still rebuilding.

We made significant investments in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to fight and prepare for wildfires.

The Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act is another step towards providing our communities with the resources we need to combat wildfires and reduce drought.

I am particularly pleased to see my language requesting information from the Department of Agriculture on crop losses due to natural disasters included in this bill.

Given the prolonged drought conditions and the constant threat of wildfire and smoke exposure, we already know that many of our growers will need disaster assistance for 2022 losses.

The information we request from USDA will help inform my work to reauthorize the Emergency Relief Program for 2022 losses.

This bill includes a crucial cost share adjustment and establishes a minimum basic pay and hiring authorities for federal wildland firefighters--providing necessary resources to those who put their lives on the line to save our lives and homes.

This bill provides authorization for the pre-deployment of resources during red flag warnings similar to how we prepare resources in advance of oncoming hurricanes.

This bill also includes provisions from the FEED Act, legislation I was proud to introduce, allowing local restaurants to partner with the government to distribute healthy food to wildfire victims during their time of need.

As we continue to address the climate crisis, I will continue to do everything I can to ensure our communities have the resources they need to prevent and recover from the fires that continue to threaten our homes and livelihoods every year.

I urge a yes vote on this bill.

Ms. DeGette. Madam Chair, studies show that when our environmental laws are broken our poorest communities disproportionately pay the price. Communities such as Globeville and Elyria-Swansea--two predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods in my district--are being inundated by the pollution coming from the highways, railyard and industrial plants around them.

The problem is: While EPA monitors each of these sources individually, they don't consider the cumulative health impact that all of these sources combined can have on nearby residents.

The legislation I included in this bill will change that. It will require EPA, for the first time, to address the cumulative effect of multiple sources of nearby pollution. It will also require EPA to identify 100 of the most heavily polluted communities in the country and ensure the laws put in place to protect them are being enforced.

Ensuring ``Environmental Justice'' for all Americans needs to be more than just a catchphrase, it should be our collective mission. I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation.

I have been working on telehealth and telemedicine for nearly three decades, since my time in the California State Senate.

As founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Telehealth Caucus, I have repeatedly introduced multiple bipartisan bills expanding access to telehealth, and have worked with my colleagues on the caucus-- including Ms. Matsui, Mr. Welch, Mr. Schweikert, and Mr. Johnson of Ohio--to ensure that access to telehealth services does not disappear at the conclusion of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

I was proud to author legislation two years ago expanding telehealth in Medicare for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. That legislation--which was included in the very first COVID-19 relief measure advanced by Congress--has allowed millions of seniors on Medicare to see their doctors over the past two years without leaving their homes.

By allowing these patients to receive the care they need remotely, we've been able to minimize transmission risk while maximizing safety for both patients and providers.

In my view, the expansion and widespread adoption of telehealth services is one of the few silver linings of COVID-19.

Americans across our country now know firsthand that by integrating technology with health care, we can bring care to underserved areas, reduce burdens on parents and caregivers, increase the efficiency of our health care system and, in many cases, save money: by ensuring that patients receive care swiftly, we can treat medical conditions early on--thereby warding off worse (and more expensive) complications down the road.

However, while the value of telehealth is particularly evident amidst a pandemic, its utility is not limited to the present circumstances.

It is critical that Congress extend telehealth flexibilities in Medicare beyond the COVID-19 public health emergency.

And that's what this bill does.

This bill includes numerous provisions of mine ensuring that seniors can continue to visit providers remotely, regardless of zip code, for two more years. It allows us to continue amassing and analyzing data, and sets the stage for telehealth to become a permanent part of the Medicare program--a goal I've long sought.

I want to thank the many, many colleagues of mine who have worked with me on this critical issue.

I urge my colleagues to vote yes.

Madam Speaker, I did not vote on Roll Call vote No. 304 as I was chairing a Ways and Means Committee hearing. Had I been present, I would have voted AYE on Roll Call No. 304, Providing for consideration of the following bills: (H.R. 7900) National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2023; (S. 3373) Protecting Our Gold Star Families Education Act; (H.R. 8296) Women's Health Protection Act; (H.R. 8297) Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act; and (H.R. 6538) Active Shooter Alert Act.

Stated against:

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Steve Orndorf for his outstanding contributions to our community.

During his 39 years living in Napa County, Mr. Orndorf was an active member of our community. He served terms as the President of the School Board, Rotary, Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Boys & Girls Club. Mr. Orndorf loved to volunteer and frequently helped with the Napa River Steelhead Monitoring Program. He also served on the Board of the Napa Valley Bank.

Mr. Orndorf was passionate about mentoring veterans who suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He worked with veterans from the Pathway Home in Yountville, and the Post Deployment Assessment Treatment Program in the Martinez Veterans Affairs Center. His infectious spirit made him easy to get along with, and he continued relationships with many of the veterans even after they graduated from the program.

Mr. Orndorf lived a life of love and adventure. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. Mr. Orndorf had many passions, including fishing, mushroom hunting, bird watching, watching the weather, rock and beer can collecting, being in the outdoors, watching the Oakland A's and the San Francisco 49ers, writing, and mentoring. His most treasured hobbies were fishing in the jungles of South America and helping others however he could.

Mr. Orndorf sadly passed away on July 14, 2020, and he will be greatly missed by our community. Madam Speaker, it is evident that Steve Orndorf has left a monumental impact on our Napa County community. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor him and his legacy here today.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Naomi Fuchs, CEO of the Santa Rosa Community Health, for her outstanding contributions to the health care system in California's Fifth Congressional District.

Ms. Fuchs was born in Boston, Massachusetts. She earned a bachelor's degree in medical anthropology and world music and dance from Wesleyan University, and a master's degree in business of administration from Sonoma State University.

In 1970, Ms. Fuchs started as an assistant to a healthcare consultant. She spent the next five years as a healthcare consultant. Later, she served as the CEO for the Redwood empire Medical Group for 15 years. In 2001, Ms. Fuchs became the board president of Santa Rosa Community Health and served as president for 22 years.

As president of the Santa Rosa Community Health, Ms. Fuchs has worked tireless to provide quality and affordable healthcare to our community. Under her leadership, Santa Rosa Community Health expanded to encompass a health-center system with over 500 employees. Ms. Fuchs also helped Santa Rosa Community Health develop the Family Residency partnership with University of California San Francisco Medical School and Sutter Hospital. This partnership launched the first accredited Family Nurse Practitioner Residency program in the United States, established a Healthcare for the Homeless site, and oversaw the reconstruction of the Santa Rosa Community Health's largest medical center, the Vista Campus.

Additionally, Ms. Fuchs is an active member of our community. She has helped establish the Sonoma County Health Action Council and served as a member of the Redwood Community Health Coalition. To mark her vital contributions to our community, Ms. Fuchs was named 2018 Sonoma County Woman of the Year by State Senator Mike McGuire. After a 40-year career in public health, Ms. Fuchs retired in June 2022. During retirement, she looks forward to spending time with family and friends.

Madam Speaker, it is evident that through her leadership, Naomi Fuchs has left a remarkable impact on public health in Northern California. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor her here today.

Madam Speaker, I rise today along with Congressman John Garamendi, to honor the 801st Engineer Construction Company of the 397th Engineer Battalion, U.S. Army Reserves for its exceptional service in the restoration of the Mare Island Naval Cemetery in Vallejo, California.

The 801st Engineer Construction Company was first established on July 8, 1942 and was activated in Northern Ireland in the same year. Additionally, individual soldiers from the company were mobilized in support of the Korean and Vietnam wars. In 1975, the company relocated to the Oakland Army Base before relocating to Vallejo on July 25, 2000.

The 801st Engineer Construction Company has been instrumental in the revitalization process of the Mare Island Naval Cemetery, which had fallen into disrepair over the last 30 years. The challenging restoration of this 2.5-acre cemetery began after the City of Vallejo applied for the Department of Defense Innovative Readiness Training Program to begin transforming Mare Island Naval Cemetery into a proper burial site for our veterans.

Soldiers from the 801st Engineer Construction Company, the 322nd Engineer Vertical Construction Company, senior leaders from the 416th Theater Engineer Command, and

volunteers began the work in the cemetery in August 2019, cutting down invasive trees and overgrowth, restoring and cleaning of headstones, repairing the drainage system, and fixing the perimeter retaining wall. After four years of hard work, they have nearly completed this extensive project.

The Mare Island Naval Cemetery, the oldest naval cemetery on the West Coast, is home to over 860 soldiers, marines, and sailors who served in conflicts such as the War of 1812 and World War I. It is also home to dozens of their relatives who are interred there. The work of the 801st Engineer Construction Company has allowed us to restore this cemetery back to a sacred final resting place for our brave men and women in uniform and their families.

Madam Speaker, there is no doubt that the 801st Engineer Construction Company has played a vital role in ensuring the Mare Island Naval Cemetery is preserved for generations to come. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor the company and its soldiers here today.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the City of Napa in celebration of the city's 150th anniversary of its incorporation and its 175th anniversary of the town's founding.

The City of Napa was founded in 1847 by Nathan Combs and Nicolas Higuera. On March 23, 1872, the settlement was first incorporated as the town of Napa. Two years later, it was reincorporated as the City of Napa.

The city originated as an important freight and trading post, and it began to flourish after the arrival of river ferries on the Napa River and the Napa County Railroad in 1860. Although its early history is comprised of hostility, intolerance and discrimination, today, the City of Napa prides itself as a multi-cultural hub for families of diverse backgrounds, including indigenous peoples; Californians of Spanish descent, Chinese immigrants, and more.

The City of Napa has a population of just under 80,000. Much of Napa's growth and prosperity can be attributed to its industrial businesses, including the famous Sawyer Tannery; founded in 1869, the Basalt Rock Company; founded around 1920, and Kaiser Steel; founded around 1940. As the heart of Napa County, the City of Napa has over 500 dedicated employees who provide a variety of municipal services, including police, fire, utilities, public works, and parks and recreation.

Every year the city attracts approximately 3.85 million visitors who experience Napa's internationally renowned food and wine culture. Both tourists and residents attend annual events hosted by the City of Napa, including, but not limited to, the Napa Lighted Art Festival, BottleRock Music Festival, and the annual 4th of July Celebration.

Madam Speaker, it is evident that the City of Napa is home to a culturally rich, diverse, and vibrant community. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor the city and its residents here today.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend, Bob Pestoni, a third generation Napa Valley native son.

Born in 1937, Mr. Pestoni was raised by his parents, Henry and Lena Pestoni, on the Pestoni family ranch in St. Helena. He was from two pioneering winemaking families, the Pestoni family, originally from Monte Carasso, Switzerland, and the Domingos family from St. George Island in the Azores.

From a young age, Mr. Pestoni had a great love for sports. He participated in Carpy Gang Football as well as played football and ran track at St. Helena High School and Napa Valley College. When he served our country in the Army, he also joined the Army football and wrestling teams.

Mr. Pestoni was an innovative leader in the waste and recycling industry. In 1963, he and his brother Marvin created Upper Valley Disposal Service, becoming the refuse hauler for the upper Napa Valley. Over time, it grew into a fully integrated company specializing in recycling, composting, waste collection and disposal, and renewable energy production. His work creating a system for processing wine grape pomace into certified organic compost won him recognition from National Geographic, Organic Materials Research Institute, and the state of California. Mr. Pestoni also received the prestigious John P. Moscone Award his for long-term exemplary commitment, dedication, and service to the waste industry.

In admiration for his family business and heritage, Mr. Pestoni and his wife Silvia, opened Rutherford Grove Winery in 1994 and resumed making the single vineyard, hand-crafted artisanal wines Bob's father and grandfather had created for more than a century before him. In 2017, in celebration of their 125th anniversary of Napa Valley winemaking, the winery was renamed Pestoni Family Estate Winery.

Mr. Pestoni was known for his warmth, generosity, and infectious smile as well as his genuine love of people and life. Mr. Pestoni was well loved by his wife of 59 years, Sylvia; his four children Andy, Greg (Aimee), Christy (Eric), and Jon (Wendy); six grandchildren Rico, Matteo, Lucia, Dominic, Ennio and Massimo; his brother Marvin (Charlene); and his best friend since the second grade, George Steinauer.

Madam Speaker, it is evident that Bob Pestoni was a pioneer and visionary in the waste industry who also made a lasting impact on his family, friends, and his community. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor him here today.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Stuart Smith and Charles Smith, founders of the Smith-Madrone Vineyards & Winery in celebration of the winery's 50th anniversary.

The Smith-Madrone Winery was founded on May 14, 1971. Its vineyards are located on top of Spring Mountain in Napa Valley at 1,200 to 1,300 feet in elevation. The winery only produces wine from these 50-year-old local vineyards that are enriched by the county's deep red Aiken loam soil.

Smith-Madrone Winery played an integral role in the international popularization of Napa Valley wines. The winery first prompted international recognition when its 1977 Riesling was named the world's Best Riesling by wine experts in the first international Wine Olympics in Paris in 1979. Additionally, Smith-Madrone received The Daily Meal's Winery of the Year award in 2014. In 2020, the winery was chosen by the University of California, Berkeley to conduct a virtual wine tasting to attendees of the University's homecoming events.

Stuart and Charles have positively impacted the wine community through their involvement in the Napa Valley wine community. Stuart was appointed to the 2008 General Plan Steering Committee and the 1998 Napa River Watershed Task Force by the Napa County Board of Supervisors. Starting in 2006, Charles has published weekly harvest report for the St. Helena Star, until Stuart took over writing the report column in 2012. Stuart also served as chairman of the 1986 and 2005 Napa Valley Wine Auction.

Madam Speaker, it is evident that Stuart Smith and Charles Smith, through the Smith-Madrone Winery and their community involvement, have made important contributions to the Napa Valley wine community. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor them here today.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Al Wagner who is Napa County Farm Bureau's 2022 Agriculturist of the Year.

Born in Queens, New York, and raised in Connecticut, Mr. Wagner grew up helping his grandparents on their family farm. He attended both the Universal Technical Institute for Automotives and Diesel Mechanics in Phoenix, Arizona, and the University of Arizona. Throughout his life, Mr. Wagner has worked as a ranch manager, an auctioneer, a wrangler, and a volunteer firefighter.

In 2015, he became the Vice President of Vineyards for Foley Family Wines. Later, he was promoted to Senior Vice President of Foley Family Farms. Mr. Wagner oversees 61 properties and over 200 employees.

Mr. Wagner is a staunch advocate for sustainable farming practices. He has received awards for his work in the Salinas Resource Conservation District and served as a member of the Napa Sustainable Winegrowing Group for years. Mr. Wagner served as the director of the Napa Valley Expo Board for nine years, during which he pushed the board to approve the use of Merlot Hall as a winter homeless shelter. He worked closely with the Napa County Health and Human Services to ensure the proposal was approved. Mr. Wagner was also instrumental in bringing the BottleRock Napa Valley festival to Napa County.

A loving husband, father, and grandfather, Mr. Wagner now lives in Sutter County with his family on a small farm. He still makes the commute to Napa and Sonoma counties several times a week to oversee his vineyards.

Madam Speaker, there is no doubt that Al Wagner is an exemplary member of our community. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor him here today.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake Tribe on the 10th anniversary of the opening of their Running Creek Casino in Lake County, California.

The people of the Habematolel Pomo Tribe have ancient origins in Lake County. Following the arrival of Europeans, the Pomo were the targets of repeated efforts of genocide, either through systemic violence or forced assimilation. Fortunately, these efforts were unsuccessful, and after a 1983 federal court case granted the Habematolel Pomo federal recognition and a portion of land in Upper Lake, the Tribe began a campaign of economic sustainability that continues today.

The federal recognition of the Habematolel Pomo brought great opportunity to Lake County. Setting out to build a casino, the tribe worked with Lake County and regional officials, along with the community at-large, to create a series of Memorandums of Understanding that would guarantee the tribe's contributions to the County for years to come. This exciting opportunity came at a time when Lake County had the highest unemployment rate in all of California.

Since the opening of Running Creek Casino in May of 2012, the people of Habematolel Pomo Tribe have accelerated steady economic growth in Lake County. The Casino created 140 new jobs, provided the County over $378,000 to improve the Lake County Sanitation District's wastewater system, contributed a one-time donation of $636,000 to the Northshore Fire Protection District for fire and safety mitigation, and granted $130,000 for field lighting at a local high school.

Beyond its monetary contributions to local government, the people of the Habematolel Pomo Tribe serve dutifully on local institutions, such as the Northshore Business Association, the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, and the Lake County Tribal Health Consortium.

Madam Speaker, it is evident that the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake and its people have tirelessly served the people and land of Lake County. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor the tribe and its members here today.