Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Robert ``Bob'' Barnum, who is being honored as the 2009 Lumberman of the Year by the Ingomar Club of Eureka. For over six decades, Mr. Barnum has presided over the family timber holdings and been a leader in the timber industry of northern California.

A Humboldt County native and fourth generation Eurekan, Bob was born to Charles R. Barnum Sr. and Helen Wells Barnum in 1927. Bob began working in the forests in the summer of 1944, where he learned to cruise timber, survey boundaries and mark cutting lines. He enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley in 1945 and graduated in 1949. He attended the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York. He married Patricia Boyle of New Jersey in 1949. Bob and Pat have five children, Patricia, Charles, Bill, Cathleen and Jane, as well as eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Bob assumed management of the family timber business in 1953. He added to the family's timber properties and formed Barnum Timber Company in 1985. He was a founding director of Forest Landowners of California, an officer and director of many industry associations, including the Redwood Region Conservation Council and the California Forestry Association. He was appointed to the California State Board of Forestry in 1972, helping to oversee the implantation of California's landmark forest practices legislation.

A lifelong Republican, Bob has proudly represented the region at the Republican National Convention in 1976, 1980 and 1984. His commitment to the preservation of our political liberty is worthy of appreciation and recognition.

Madam Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we recognize the contributions of Robert ``Bob'' Barnum to the community and to the industry which he loves, and for being honored as the 2009 Lumberman of the Year.

Madam Speaker, on November 2, 2009, I was unavoidably unable to cast my votes for rollcall 832, rollcall 833 and rollcall 834. My flight to Washington was delayed due to mechanical difficulties. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the Mendocino Presbyterian Church on the occasion of the congregation's 150th anniversary. The Mendocino Presbyterian Church in the village of Mendocino on California's north coast is the oldest active Presbyterian Church in California. Eight local residents including six women chartered it in 1859.

The Mendocino Presbyterian Church is California Historic Landmark Number 714 and is listed on the Federal Register of Historic Places. Its spire and English gothic design are iconic symbols exemplifying Mendocino's history and much photographed architecture.

The Church sanctuary is entirely built from local redwood. It was designed by San Francisco architects S.C. Bugbee and Son, who previously designed the Crocker and Stanford mansions, which were destroyed by the 1906 earthquake. Donations by local citizens and businesspeople such as pioneering residents Jeremy Ford and Henry Meiggs made the building possible. The first pastor in 1861 was Reverend David McClure and the first written record of the sermon was on October 19, 1861.

A thousand pound cast iron bell was shipped from one of the most prestigious foundries in the New World, the Meneeley Foundry in West Troy, New York, around the Horn and installed in 1870. It has rung to signal Sunday services ever since. In addition to ringing for weddings and memorial services, since 2006 the bell has also tolled on Friday evenings in honor of our service men and women and Iraqi and Afghan civilians who died the previous week. Inside the bell tower is covered with chalk signatures, including every pastor, and others who have climbed the stepladder to the top. The bell rope, which extends to the reception area of the sanctuary, includes one knot for each ordained pastor who served. Symbolic sections join the knots as a historical record related to events around the nation and the world. A framed document interprets the bell rope significance.

While the original chandeliers and wall sconces have been electrified and gilded, most of the interior of the Sanctuary remains the same as when it was constructed. The cork floor between the pews is a scuffed record of the many shoes from high heels to logging boots worn by those who have attended services.

The Mendocino Presbyterian Church has been home to Rainbow pre-school welcoming children of all denominations since 1978. The Church sponsors the Mendocino Christian Camp, Bible Study and schools in Nicaragua as part of its mission and outreach. In addition, the adjacent Preston Hall is a popular community center for events such as art auctions, book sales, the Christmas bazaar, and receptions and meals. The Church is a popular wedding location and was featured in a Kodak commercial in the 1970s. In 1947, Warner Brothers filmed a scene for the movie Johnny Belinda inside the sanctuary with the Church choir performing.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring 150 years of invaluable religious, civic and community service by the Mendocino Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 101st anniversary of the Point Arena Light Station on the magnificent Mendocino Coast in northern California.

A beacon to mariners since the original Point Arena Lighthouse was constructed in

1870, the Point Arena Light Station was rebuilt following its destruction by the devastating 1906 earthquake along the San Andreas Fault. The old brick and mortar construction was replaced with a new design featuring steel reinforcement rods encased in concrete to withstand future earthquakes. Point Arena Light Station was the first lighthouse to be built in this manner.

The new Lighthouse stands 115 feet tall and began operation in 1908, nearly 18 months after the quake. The Light Station is home to a First Order Fresnel Lens built in France and one of very few left in the United States. It is six feet in diameter and weighs more than six tons. The lens is made up of 666 hand-ground glass prisms all focused toward three sets of double bull's eyes. It gave the Point Arena Lighthouse its unique ``light signature'' of two flashes every six seconds. This incredible optic, that holds an appraised value of over $3.5 million, is set in solid brass framework.

Prior to the introduction of electricity, the lens was rotated by a clockwork mechanism. The Keepers, or ``wickies'' as they were called, had to hand crank a 160-pound weight up the center shaft of the lighthouse every 75 minutes to keep the lens turning. Later, two 1,000 watt electric lamps were installed to replace the oil lamp, and an electric motor was installed to replace the clockworks.

In 1977, an automated aircraft-type beacon on the balcony tower, and the historic First Order Fresnel Lens was discontinued. The 400-pound aircraft beacon was recently replaced by a modern rotating light that incorporates the Fresnel principles for the efficient projection of light. In addition, a radio beacon, with a 50-mile signal that originates from the station, also assists mariners. The original oil lamp was visible for approximately 18 miles, the 1st Order Fresnel Lens for 20 miles and the current modern rotating light can be seen for 16 miles. In 1978, the fog signal at the station was silenced, and a bell buoy was placed nearby.

In 1984, The Coast Guard and the U.S. Department of Transportation transferred the Point Arena Light Station to the Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, a nonprofit organization as part of a 25-year land lease. In 2000, the PALK became the official owners of the property due to their diligent historic preservation and educational efforts. Daily visitation, gift store sales, memberships and the rental of the historic Keeper's homes on the property as vacation houses, provide income for ongoing preservation, facility upgrades and educational endeavors.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in recognizing the ongoing contribution and historic significance of one of America's treasures, the 101-year-old Point Arena Light Station.

Madam Speaker, I rise today along with my colleague, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, to honor the woman known to hundreds of Sonoma County veterans as simply ``Dudley.'' Dudley recently retired as a county Veterans Service Officer after more than 37 years and is taking with her the respect and admiration of a grateful nation.

Dudley is herself a veteran, joining the Army directly out of high school in 1962. She describes this period of her life as ``the best thing that ever happened to her.'' It was during this time that she developed her lifelong appreciation for and dedication to the men and women who serve our country in uniform.

A six-and-a-half year stint as a flight attendant for several airlines that declared bankruptcy left her stranded and unemployed in Sonoma County. To the good fortune of every veteran in the area, she soon found work as a clerk typist in the Veterans Service Office in 1972. Four short years later, she was promoted to a Veterans Claim Worker and from that point forward, became the champion of every veteran with whom she worked.

She was one of the first to recognize that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was severely affecting the ability of many of our veterans to fully function after returning from combat. She

worked relentlessly with the Department of Veterans Affairs and within the county veteran's service organizations to have PTSD recognized as a disability and was eventually successful.

Throughout her 37-year career, she has given specialized training presentations at the state and national level on procedures for filing claims with the VA for specific disabilities. She has been honored and recognized for her work by the Vietnam Veterans of America, receiving the organization's highest honor, the Commendation Medal, in 1999. The California State Council of Vietnam Veterans of America presented her with its Member of the Year award in 2000.

Dudley also served the veterans community by organizing the United Veterans Parade Committee to participate with floats and veterans groups in Santa Rosa's largest civic parade and by organizing the United Veterans Council POW/MIA ceremony to honor former prisoners of war and those missing in action from Sonoma County.

Madam Speaker, Dudley is a living example that one person can make a difference. There is no greater champion of veterans in our two Congressional Districts and it is therefore appropriate that we honor and express our gratitude to her today and wish her well in her retirement.

Madam Speaker, on October 26, 2009, I was unavoidably unable to cast my votes for rollcall 814 and rollcall 815. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Napa Valley Horsemen's Association on the occasion of their 70th anniversary. NVHA was organized by a dedicated group of horse lovers to promote horses as a form of recreation in the Napa Valley. On October 17th, 2009, the Association is celebrating this milestone at their clubhouse in Southwest Napa.

The Horsemen's Association has a long and storied history. NVHA held its first meeting on October 11, 1939, at the Napa Fairgrounds in the Home Economics Building. From there the club grew to 82 charter members by January 1940. On November 19, 1939, the club held its first event, consisting of races, roping, horsemanship classes and jumping.

NVHA purchased the 32 acres at its present location on Foster Road in Napa in 1948. The site was a working dairy, and upon purchase the club members refurbished the milking barn to operate as a clubhouse and spent the next few years holding fundraisers to build the arenas and horse barns.

NVHA has been involved in supporting local equestrian events throughout its history and continues to do so today. The club boasts members who participate in all disciplines of riding, along with many members who simply enjoy horses. In addition to offering numerous shows, cattle events and speed events, NVHA also hosts educational clinics aimed at improving training, feeding and the keeping of local horses. In recent years, NVHA has partnered with the Bureau of Land Management to host adoption events for mustangs and burros. The club boasts an active youth group and also gives out annual scholarships to four local high school students who are studying equestrian or agricultural topics.

Madam Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we honor the Napa Valley Horsemen's Association's illustrious history and numerous contributions to equestrianism in the Napa Valley. The Association continues to improve and thrive today, and I commend past and current board members for their commitment to this cause.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker and Members, this bill is about freeing up 2.5 million gallons of water per day through recycling, water that would be able to be used throughout the affected areas in California. This reduces water demand for our State, again, 2.5 million gallons a day.

I want to speak to something that was said earlier, and that was that the salmon fishermen in California, the salmon fishing families, were not hurt, and that the claims that they were were bogus.

Mr. Speaker and Members, the salmon fishermen and their families in my district on the north coast of California have been out of work for 3 of the past 4 years, mostly because of illegal biological opinions issued by the past administration.

At the same time, the farmers south of the delta have been receiving disaster funds for their water shortages, $95 million over the course of the last 2 years. The biological opinions, the illegal biological opinions that I mentioned, helped kill some 80,000 spawning salmon on the Klamath River and decimated the salmon fishery along the Sacramento River. Those fisheries in the Sacramento River saw their salmon populations go from 800,000 to 66,000 in 3 short years.

Mr. Speaker and Members, fishing families have been put out of work in my district and up through and into Oregon. They have lost their homes, they have lost their savings, and they have lost their livelihoods. It's not bogus, and it's shameful to suggest that it is.

The heart of the issue that's here today, the opponents of this bill feel very comfortable choosing one business as more superior to another. The opponents' debate isn't about solutions but rather----

Madam Speaker, I rise today along with my colleague, Lynn Woolsey, to recognize and honor Mary's Pizza Shack, which has been selected as the Business of the Year by the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Not only is Mary's Pizza Shack being honored by the Chamber, but the restaurant chain is celebrating its 50th year anniversary as a mainstay in Sonoma Valley.

Family matriarch, Mary Fazio, started the business in Boyes Hot Springs with a $700 investment and pots and pans from her own kitchen. Her dream was to have a warm, family-friendly place where people could enjoy hearty portions of her family's favorite foods at reasonable prices. It was clearly a recipe for success. Today there are 18 ``Shacks'' in seven counties in Northern California and this third generation-run family business is branching out this year with a new fast/casual restaurant concept to compliment to original Mary's Pizza Shacks.

But Mary's is much more than a successful business model; it is an integral part of the fabric of the community.

For generations, it is been the after-game destination for every sports team in the valley, young or old. Countless victories have been celebrated there and losses have been made a little more bearable with a pepperoni pizza or two.

Since its inception, Mary's has given back to the community through its financial support of 50 community organizations each year, through its popular ``Dine and Donate'' nights, and its commitment to the valley's youth. As an employer, Mary's makes it a point to hire people with disabilities.

Madam Speaker, local businesses in the small communities throughout our two Congressional districts are much more than employers. They are the backbone of a support system for projects, non-profit organizations, and our youth and civic events that would not be successful without their involvement. Like many of the businesses selected by the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce as its Business of the Year, Mary's Pizza Shack exemplifies this commitment. It is therefore appropriate for us to honor Mary's Pizza Shack, the Fazio family and all of their employees, both past and present, for 50 years of dedicated service to the Sonoma Valley.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Cloverdale Historical Society as it dedicates and opens the new Cloverdale History Center.

The new 4,000 square foot, temperature controlled History Center will house and preserve a wide variety of artifacts and documents and provide accommodations for historical, genealogical and cultural research. It will be the centerpiece of a cultural renaissance in what has become Sonoma County's fastest growing city.

The Society is staffed 100 percent by volunteers who take great pride in the area's heritage and its diversity. It was founded in 1968 by local residents dedicated to preserving the local history of this vibrant community.

One of its more unique projects is its on-going work to completely restore Cloverdale's oldest residential structure. The Gould-Shaw house and its gardens face the town's main boulevard and lend a 19th century charm through its Gothic Revival architectural style.

The Historical Society has also hosted the annual ``Old Time Fiddle Festival'' for the past 35 years. The event helps preserve the historic fiddling culture and has fostered appreciation for this distinctively American music among the thousands of visitors who have participated in this event throughout the years.

Madam Speaker, the City of Cloverdale is rightfully proud of the Historical Society and its new History Center. It is therefore appropriate that we acknowledge and honor the Cloverdale Historical Society and the countless volunteers who have made this dream a reality.

Madam Speaker, I rise with my colleague Representative Lynn Woolsey, to honor a local public broadcaster, KRCB in Sonoma County, California. KRCB is celebrating 25 years of service to our local communities.

Nancy Dobbs, President and CEO, has been the guiding force behind KRCB from the beginning. She notes that it is a rare opportunity to build such a public institution. ``When we started in January, 1981,'' she says, ``we had to argue for the license before the FCC, find land on which to build our offices and studios, raise money for a station that did not yet exist, and convince the community about the importance of our own public broadcasting service.''

Fortunately for all of us, the effort was successful. Today, we cannot imagine what Sonoma County would be like without KRCB, which provides PBS television, NPR radio, and local programming. It is the only PBS service available to more than a quarter of a million residents.

Working with nonprofits, businesses, and government agencies, KRCB has led community dialogues on health care, the environment, and disability awareness, to name just a few. The station has been awarded three Emmys for its national environmental series National Heroes, has been honored by the California Teachers' Association for its North Bay Report, and has received honors for local election coverage, provided consistently for the past 17 years. KRCB also provides air time to celebrate local cultural events, such as the full season of the acclaimed Santa Rosa Symphony, which would otherwise be unavailable.

According to Dobbs, ``It was clear from the beginning that KRCB's mission was to utilize the public airwaves of which we are stewards to strengthen the communities we serve. Public broadcasting is a critically important tool with which to stimulate community dialogue and engagement, central elements of a healthy democracy.''

Madam Speaker, we congratulate KRCB Television and Radio on its 25 years of service. It is indeed a treasure of Northern California.

Madam Speaker, I rise today along with my colleague, Representative Lynn Woolsey, to honor the life of Gene Tunney who served as Sonoma County District Attorney for 20 years. Mr. Tunney passed away August 9, 2009, with his family at his side.

Born in New York City in 1931, Mr. Tunney was the son of the famous heavyweight boxing champion James Joseph ``Gene'' Tunney and brother of California Congressman and Senator John Tunney. After serving in the Army, he moved to the Bay Area where he enrolled in law school in San Francisco. In 1971, he began his first job in Sonoma County as a Deputy Public Defender. A few years later he ran for District Attorney, narrowly winning the race. He served in that office for five more terms, from 1974 to 1994.

Mr. Tunney is credited with modernizing and professionalizing the District Attorney's office, guiding its transition in an era of increasingly urban types of crime. He placed restrictions on plea bargains and reviewed all felony cases while becoming an advocate for victims of crime. He was highly regarded for his sense of justice and for bringing changes to offices around the state after co-founding the California District Attorney's Association.

Married 49 years ago, Mr. Tunney enjoyed spending time with his wife Ann and their family. After retirement, the couple lived in Hawaii for a decade where they pursued their mutual hobby, flying small planes, as well as traveling, swimming, and reading. They later moved to Tiburon in Marin County, California.

Mr. Tunney is survived by his children Alexandra Kelly, Megan Tunney, Erin MacLeon, and Gene Tunney as well as seven grandchildren and brothers John and Jay.

Madam Speaker, we are proud to honor Gene Tunney 's contributions to our community and know that, with many of his Deputy District Attorneys serving on the bench, his legacy of high standards and fairness to victims will continue in Sonoma County.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Anne Lindsay, M.D. and Alan Glaseroff, M.D., two extraordinary citizens of Humboldt County, California who have dedicated their lives to public service. The husband and wife team are being honored by the Humboldt County Democratic Central Committee as 2009 Citizens of the Year for one of our nation's most precious rights--participation in the political system. Their commitment to the general health and welfare of the community and to the preservation of our liberty is worthy of appreciation and recognition.

Dr. Lindsay has served as the Public Health Officer for the County of Humboldt for the past fifteen years. She is President of the California Conference of Local Health Officers, representing 61 county and city health officers from throughout California. She has demonstrated outstanding and innovative leadership throughout years of public service, tackling some of the nation's most difficult public health issues, from homelessness to communicable disease control. She has been recognized locally and nationally for her exemplary efforts, recognized as the 2nd Senate District 2004 Woman of the Year by the California Legislature and receiving the distinguished California Medical Association 2006 Frederick K. M. Plessner Memorial Award for rural practitioners.

Dr. Glaseroff has been the Chief Medical Officer for the Humboldt-Del Norte Independent Physician Association since its inception in 1995 and is the Medical Director for the Foundation for Medical Care. He has led the way locally and nationally in seeking solutions to achieve improved, quality health care. He has distinguished himself as the principal investigator for the Humboldt Diabetes Project and faculty for the statewide diabetes collaborative. He is affiliated with the National Committee for Quality Assurance, is the co-director for the Aligning Forces for Quality Initiative, sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and was named the 2009 Family Physician of the Year by the California Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Glaseroff has dedicated his medical career to finding ways to improve the delivery of health care.

These extraordinary individuals have been partners in a rural family medical practice for the past 26 years. They share the happiness of family life with their two children, Rebecca Lindsay, a medical school student and Bruce Lindsay Glaseroff, a teacher. A talented and musical family, Anne and Alan also perform with the Humboldt County blues band, the Back Seat Drivers.

Madam Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we recognize Anne Lindsay and Alan Glaseroff for their unwavering compassion and for their contribution to the ideals and traditions that have made America a nation of hope and achievement.

Mr. Speaker, today we are debating legislation that will establish in law the principle that our country should pay for what it buys.

I've been an advocate for Pay-as-you-go legislation, also known as PAYGO, since I was elected to Congress. It just makes sense--we shouldn't spend more money than we have.

PAYGO has a long history of success--in the 1990s it helped generate record surpluses.

However, when the Clinton administration left office, PAYGO was allowed to expire by the new administration. As a result, the record surpluses were wiped out.

We need to restore common sense to the Federal Government. While PAYGO is not a cure-all for deficits, it is a crucial first step toward reducing them. It puts our Nation on the road back to fiscal responsibility and restoring our Nation's fiscal health.

And, to make sure that future administration's can't change the PAYGO policy midstream, today we are enacting PAYGO into law.

Madam Speaker, on July 9, 2009, I was unavoidably unable to cast my vote for rollcall 512. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''