Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with my colleagues from California to recognize and honor Governor Brown. Governor Brown is the first governor in the history of California to be elected to four terms.

Governor Brown's unprecedented four gubernatorial terms reflect the high level of trust and confidence Californians' have in him to lead our state. Throughout his illustrious three terms in office, Governor Brown has proven to be an effective leader committed to ensuring economic vitality and fiscal responsibility as well as reducing crime, investing in education and protecting our environment.

During his first two terms in office, Governor Brown built a prudent budget surplus and in his recent third term, has carefully balanced the state's budget and established a strong rainy day fund. During his first two terms he enacted multiple pieces of legislation aimed at reducing crime and keeping our streets safe. Also during his first two terms, Governor Brown significantly increased state funding levels for higher education and established educational standards high school students must meet to be eligible to graduate. Governor Brown has long been an advocate for protecting our environment; in fact, during his first two terms California became the first state to establish energy efficiency standards. Governor Brown has continued to build on this legacy in his recent third term by raising our state's clean energy goal. Governor Brown's fourth term promises more positive changes for California, including continued efforts to improve and increase transportation options within our state.

In addition to his service as Governor of California, Governor Brown has served the people of California as Secretary of State and Attorney General. In these roles, Governor Brown worked to protect California's working families and consumers by cracking down on crime, uncovering mortgage fraud and real estate scams, and working to prevent the abuse of campaign laws. Outside of statewide office, Governor Brown served as the Mayor of Oakland, California, where he worked to revitalize the downtown area by attracting new restaurants, businesses, and art galleries. He also worked to improve education opportunities in the city and reduce the rate of serious crime.

Mr. Speaker, Governor Edmund ``Jerry'' Brown leads our state with integrity and with the best interests of all Californians in mind. Along with my colleagues, I thank him for his years of service and look forward to seeing all that he will accomplish for our state throughout his fourth term.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and thank Lake County Supervisor Denise Rushing for her eight years of dedicated service to the people of Lake County. Supervisor Rushing championed countless projects that will improve the long-term vitality of our county.

Supervisor Rushing served as the 3rd District Supervisor for Lake County for eight years, during which time she also served as the Chair of the Lake County Board of Supervisors. During her years of service, Supervisor Rushing was instrumental to implementing and finishing a number of projects that will help to protect and sustain our environment.

During her tenure Lake County installed solar power at county facilities, such as the jail and wastewater treatment plant. With Supervisor Rushing's guidance, the Board of Supervisors transformed the unsightly trailer park known as Clark's Island into an eco-park, made entirely of natural materials. In fact, Lake County made such tremendous advances in its use of solar power and green building practices that the county received two California Green Summit Environmental Leadership Awards.

Supervisor Rushing also championed the development of Mount Konocti County Park, the Middle Creek Restoration Project and the Konocti Regional Trails. Thanks to her fine work, residents of Lake County will be better able to enjoy the natural beauty and splendor that our county offers for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we honor and thank Supervisor Rushing for her invaluable service to Lake County. Her unyielding dedication to protecting and promoting environmental sustainability and renewable energy is greatly appreciated by the entire community and we wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Napa Police Department (NPD) Chief Richard Melton upon his retirement. Capping off a long and impressive career in law enforcement, Chief Melton devoted the last ten years to serving and protecting our community as Chief of Police.

Before coming to Napa, Chief Melton was the Chief of Police for both Farmington and Los Alamos, New Mexico Police Departments. Upon assuming the position of Chief of Police in Napa in 2004, Chief Melton immediately began improving the NPD's relationship with the community as well as both the level of professionalism and education within the

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleague, Congressman Jared Huffman, to honor Ralph Benson upon his retirement as Executive Director of the Sonoma Land Trust.

For the past twelve years, Mr. Benson has worked tirelessly to guide, expand and strengthen the Sonoma Land Trust, enabling the organization to better fulfill its goal of protecting and conserving our lands for generations to come. During his time as the Executive Director, Mr. Benson increased the Sonoma Land Trust's budget from $1 million to $5 million, doubled its staff and more than doubled its membership. During his tenure, the Sonoma Land Trust acquired 5,630 acres in the Jenner Headlands and opened the Baylands Center at Sears Point Ranch for use as an environmental education center. Under his leadership, Sonoma Land Trust is currently working on a tidal wetlands restoration project and trail expansion along San Pablo Bay and Highway 37.

Mr. Benson's impressive work to grow his organization and take on sizable projects has bestowed tremendous benefits upon our community. The Sonoma Land Trust now protects 48,000 acres of land, up from 15,000 acres, and has attracted outside capital to the County of Sonoma that amounts to more than $80 million.

Mr. Benson's colleagues credit his success to his ability to foster enduring and productive partnerships and connections. A true leader, Mr. Benson inspired others to believe in his vision of what the Sonoma Land Trust was capable of achieving and with hard-work and his can-do attitude, made his vision a reality.

Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we honor and thank Mr. Benson for his invaluable contributions to land conservation in Sonoma County. On behalf of a grateful community, we wish him a most enjoyable retirement.

I thank the gentleman for yielding and for all the good work you did on the committee as the ranking member. I also want to thank Chairman Rogers for the good work that he did as the chairman.

Working together, he was very accommodating and allowed all of us to be able to address specific issues that were of concern to us and regarding the security of our great Nation. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are going to miss you.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the passage of this bill. This bill will provide greater national security for our country and the people that we all represent.

The bill contains two important provisions that I authored that protect our communities at home and diplomatic facilities abroad.

My district is home to several oil refineries, employing thousands of people, providing well-paying, good, middle class jobs, and are a key part of our regional economy.

As domestic oil production continues to increase in the region, I have heard from several of my constituents and my local governments about their growing concern regarding the security of the shipment and storage of crude oil and subsequent refined products. I believe we have the responsibility to protect our workers, our domestic refineries, and our communities from potential threats.

Included in this bill is a provision that directs the Department of Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis to conduct an assessment of the security of our Nation's oil refineries and related rail transportation infrastructure. It directs the office to make recommendations on how to improve intelligence collection and sharing of information to better protect those facilities in the surrounding communities from any harm.

Additionally, studies conducted in response to the terrible 2012 attack on Benghazi identified the need for security personnel at U.S. diplomatic posts to receive threat information in a more timely manner.

In response to this need, this bill requires the Director of National Intelligence to provide an assessment of the status of threat information sharing between the intelligence community and diplomatic security personnel and to propose actions to help make sure security personnel at U.S. Embassies are better able to request and receive security enhancements in a timely manner.

By making sure our intelligence community is taking concerns seriously and sharing the necessary information, we can better assess and mitigate threats and increase security at home and abroad and make our country safer.

I urge my colleagues to join me in passing this good piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank our California delegation leader for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to recognize two men that I have had the high honor and the great privilege to serve with for their last 16 years in Congress: George Miller and Henry Waxman. And I have had the unenviable task to try and represent part of George's old district and, I will tell you, you have got to work about three times as hard just to try and catch up to where he has been.

When I was first elected to Congress, I learned quickly that none of us are able to accomplish anything without the help and the sacrifices of those who came before us. For many of us, myself included, none have helped or sacrificed more than George and Henry. They fought the good fight, they have won some incredible battles, and America is a better place for it today.

George, I remember, I don't know about fondly, but I remember like it was yesterday, joining forces with you to reverse a water decision that a former administration had made that killed 80,000 spawning salmon in my district and economically devastated the area that I represented. Had it not been for you, those people would still be washed up on the rocks. But we came on this floor together and, with your guidance and you as my mentor, we were able to help those folks weather that very, very terrible time. I appreciate your help, and so do they.

It has been said that any of us who experience any success at all in Congress do so on the shoulder of giants. This institution has seen many giants, but none larger than Henry Waxman and George Miller. They are great legislators. They have legislated successfully on everything from health care to education to tobacco to natural resources. They have fought the fights that have made American people live a better life.

We will always read in our history books about the great men and women who have worked in this magnificent institution. I, for one, am thankful that I had the opportunity to serve with two of them. They are living legends, and we should all recognize how fortunate we have been.

Their work and their accomplishments will endure long past their retirement, and our country will forever be a stronger and better place because of George Miller and Henry Waxman. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 5781, a bill that was written in secret, would destroy jobs, ignores established science, and does nothing to address the drought.

Unfortunately, I am unable to participate in this debate today due to the House Majority's last minute scheduling. Not only were we not given time for Congressional hearings or public input on this legislation, we were not even

given enough time to plan to be here to debate the bill after it was rushed to the floor. I was home working in district when this debate was scheduled and by the time I received notice of the floor debate, no flights were available other than the one I was originally on.

Ten months ago this House considered and passed a similarly horrible bill. Neither bill will solve the drought because neither bill can make it rain.

Instead of spending the last ten months working across the aisle with all stakeholders at the table to come up with legislation that actually addresses the statewide drought, the Majority has negotiated this bill in secret with only a select group of farming interests in the Central Valley.

Everyone in California is affected by the ongoing statewide drought and Congress should not be picking winners and losers. Unfortunately, this bill does just that.

H.R. 5781 is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to use the drought as an excuse to steal water from the Bay Delta--and to do so with zero regard for the folks who depend on that water for their livelihoods.

The Delta supports thousands of jobs in farming, fishing and tourism, and has an economic output of more than $4 billion a year.

Millions also rely on the Delta for drinking water. When clean water is pumped south, the level of salt water in the Delta increases. Folks can't drink seawater.

The entire state of California is in a drought. It's not due to a lack of pumping. It's due to a lack of snow and rain.

If the Majority was interested in actually addressing the drought, there are things we could do to help. Congress can invest in more water conservation, more water recycling, and more water storage.

With investments like these, we can collect millions of gallons of new water, help farmers better plan, and create good jobs.

This bill does none of that. Our people deserve better than this politically driven bill. They deserve solutions.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on H.R. 5781.

Mr. Speaker, on November 12, I was absent due to airline delays between California and Washington, DC and was unable to cast my vote for rollcall 516.

Rollcall No. 516: Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 4194-- Government Reports Elimination Act. Had I been present I would have voted, ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of ``One Grateful Minute'', which will be observed at noon on September 21, 2014, for a period of sixty seconds in conjunction with World Gratitude Day and the United Nations World Peace Day.

With all that is going on in our world it is important for us to take this one minute out of our day to reflect and express gratitude for all that we have. This global initiative will allow us to all come together in shared gratitude and appreciation for all that is good in our lives.

Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we recognize the ``One Grateful Minute'' initiative on September 21, and the positive impact that gratitude can have on our lives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Napa Valley Vintners. In an outstanding display of generosity, Napa Valley Vintners donated $10 million to create a Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund, which will be used to help residents and businesses recover from the recent earthquake in our Napa Valley.

In the aftermath of this devastating earthquake, the Napa Valley Vintners sprung into action. Propelled by a desire to help our community in its time of need, the Napa Valley Vintners devised a plan to help those impacted by the earthquake in a big way. The creation of this fund and the initial pledge of $10 million will provide immediate financial assistance for individuals and businesses as they work to get back on their feet. The Napa Valley Vintners hope that this fund will grow with additional donations and thereby be able to help even more people throughout our community. With the generosity of groups like the Napa Valley Vintners, our 5th Congressional District will be back up and running in no time.

I am proud to represent a district with kind-hearted, community- minded and generous people such as those with the Napa Valley Vintners. Mr. Speaker, the Napa Valley Vintners deserve to be recognized and honored here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Napa County Library Literacy Center as they celebrate their 30th Anniversary of offering literacy services for adults in Napa County.

Thirty years ago, the Napa County Library received a grant for library literacy programs. At the time, they were one of few public libraries to have received such a grant in California. Since then, Napa County Library has developed their literacy program into the robust, comprehensive and effective program that it is today. More than 2,500 adults have received private tutoring sessions in English language literacy free of charge. Of course, this staggering accomplishment would not have been possible without the wonderful tutors that over the past 30 years, have volunteered more than 900,000 hours to help their fellow community members achieve their English language literacy goals.

I firmly believe that every American deserves the opportunity to learn to read, write and speak English. I could not be more proud to represent a district that not only shares this belief, but that works every day to make this a reality in our community.

Mr. Speaker, it is important that we recognize the Napa County Library's Literacy Program for all they do to increase literacy in our community. On behalf of a grateful community, we honor and thank the Napa County Library today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Kathleen A. Millison, City Manager for the City of Santa Rosa, upon her retirement.

Ms. Millison's four years as City Manager in Santa Rosa cap off a career of more than 35 years in public service. Before she brought her talents to Santa Rosa, Ms. Millison served the City of Clovis as City Manager for almost 20 years and previously held the position of Assistant City Manager for Clovis. Before settling in California, Ms. Millison served as an Assistant City Manager, Planning Director and Assistant Planner for multiple communities throughout Washington and Oregon.

During her time serving the City of Santa Rosa, Ms. Millison is credited for countless improvements in our community that will benefit residents for years to come. For instance, Ms. Millison worked to create guidelines for managing community growth. She improved public utilities and community amenities while also working diligently to create a stronger, more robust and inviting local economy.

In addition to her work for the city, Ms. Millison served as a board chair of the California Association of Local Economic Development, a member of the board of directors of the Institute for Local Government, and is a past president of the City Manager's Department of the League of California Cities. In recent years, Ms. Millison has been involved in local leadership as well, particularly with public school foundations, local history associations and regional economic development associations. Her fellow community members have recognized her for this work with numerous awards.

Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we honor and thank Ms. Millison for her invaluable service to the City of Santa Rosa. Her unyielding dedication to protecting and improving our community is greatly appreciated by the entire Santa Rosa community and we wish her a most enjoyable retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong concern regarding President Obama's failure to notify Congress at least 30 days in advance of exchanging five Taliban prisoners held at U.S. Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, for U.S. Army Sergeant Bowie Bergdahl, who was held by the Taliban as a Prisoner of War (POW).

However, this resolution is a clear example of partisan overreach by the House Majority and does not appropriately address these issues. Nor does it advance this debate in a constructive way. In the words of the Dissenting Views of the House Armed Services Committee members, this resolution is ``an overstated and unnecessary product of a rhetorical exercise fueled by over partisanship.''

We, as a nation, have an obligation to the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces to do everything in our power as a nation to bring them home. Americans do not leave our soldiers behind.

Section 8111, of the Department of Defense (DOD) Appropriations Act of 2014, prohibits the President from using any Congressionally appropriated funds to transfer any individuals detained at Guantanamo Bay, unless Congress is notified 30 days in advance. This is the law, and the President is required to comply with the law.

The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) concluded that ``DOD violated section 8111 because it did not notify the relevant congressional committees at least 30 days in advance of the transfer.'' Additionally, GAO concluded that DOD violated the Antideficiency Act ``because DOD used appropriated funds to carry out the transfer when no money was available for that purpose.''

While I agree with the GAO findings, I cannot vote for a purely partisan measure written under the pretense of addressing a violation of the law.

This is a serious matter that requires deliberative debate in Congress. The President should have followed the law, as laid out in section 8111, and notified Congress 30 days in advance of this release. However, the American peo deserve better than this highly politicized resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I thank the gentleman for the nice remarks with regard to Mr. Philmore Graham, for whom we are naming the post office in Vallejo.

I want to preface my remarks by saying that my district just suffered a terrible earthquake, and it was centered between Vallejo and my home county of Napa, and two of the post offices in Vallejo are seriously damaged and are probably going to be torn down as a result, but remarkably, the one on Admiral Callaghan Lane in Vallejo is still standing.

It hasn't received any damage at all, and that is the one that we are naming after Philmore Graham, and I think it is fitting because, like Philmore Graham, that post office is strong, standing, and serving the community, a community that Philmore served for decades.

I feel particularly privileged to have known Philmore Graham. I knew him as a community leader. As was mentioned before, he was a hero. He served our country in the military. He founded the Omega Boys and Girls Club, and he was the first and only African American nuclear supervisor on Mare Island Naval Shipyard, and he had a passion for the lives of children and for the future of our community.

He founded that Boys and Girls Club in his garage. He started with a small group of kids, and he grew that group to a large population within our community. Kids under Philmore's tutelage grew up to be great people and to do great things.

The kids who came out of that Boys and Girls Club, as my friend mentioned, went on to be doctors and lawyers and business people, professional athletes--all-star professional athletes who continue to give back to our community, and the work that Philmore did of founding the Omega Boys and Girls Club in Vallejo lives on today and will always be responsible for the betterment of our community and the betterment of the young boys and girls who grow up in that community.

I ask that all of our colleagues join us in voting for this measure, to rightfully name this post office after Philmore Graham.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I join with my friend in asking everyone to support this measure to name this post office after Sergeant Shawn T. Hannon and Master Sergeant Jeffrey J. Rieck, and I align myself with all of the comments that my friend and colleague has made on behalf of these two gentlemen, these two heroes. I ask that everybody vote for this measure.

On behalf of all of us, I thank the families of these two heroes for their service and for their sacrifice to our great country.

I yield back the balance of my time.