Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise along with my colleagues, Congressman Ruiz and Congressman Calvert to speak to S. 47, the Natural Resources Management Act and a provision that I introduced as part of the California Desert Protection and Recreation Act of 2019, specifically Section 1457 as it relates to the designation of the Whitewater River as a Wild and Recreational River.

The City of Banning and the Community of Banning Heights, which are in the district of Mr. Ruiz, receive a vital source of water from a flume that conveys water from the headwaters of the Whitewater River, which is located in my district.

In 1913, the State of California recognized the appropriative state water rights that the City of Banning and Banning Heights Mutual Water Company use to divert water from the headwaters of the Whitewater River into the San Gorgonio watershed. In 1918, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior approved the right-of-way for the diversion structures and the flume that carries the water to the City and to Banning Heights. These communities have relied on this water for over a century--water that is critical for drinking, cooking, washing, and fire control. The two communities own the water rights, which provide 100 percent of the water for the community of Banning Heights and approximately 30 percent of the water for the City of Banning.

In designating the Whitewater River as a Wild and Recreational River, we speak with one voice in saying that we do not wish in any way to interfere with these historic rights. We recognize that the downstream portions of the Whitewater River already have the necessary flows for the Wild and Recreational designations and that additional flows are not needed to maintain or enhance these designations. As the primary sponsor of the legislation containing the Whitewater designation in the House, I in particular, wish to underscore this as a matter of legislative history and Congressional intent. We ask that the Forest Service and the BLM in implementing the Wild and Recreational River designations heed this Congressional intent and incorporate it into any land management plan amendment and other implementing documents.

We also want to be sure that the United States Forest Service-- specifically the San Bernardino National Forest--heeds the instructions from the FY19 Interior Appropriations bill (P.L. 116-6) that reminds the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service of the states' jurisdiction over water law and expect that all applicable laws will be followed when considering a request for a permit or permit renewal.

The U.S. Forest Service, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Bureau of Land Management, and other agencies should not now, or in the future, point to the designation of the Whitewater River as a Wild and Recreational River as a justification to require the City of Banning or the Banning Heights Mutual Water Company to relinquish their state- granted water rights nor should such agencies require the removal of diversions at the headwaters of the Whitewater River and the flume that are necessary for these communities to receive water appropriated to them by the State of California.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service and commitment of Chet Hitt, who received the Distinguished Community Service Award from the Victor Valley College Foundation on February 23, 2019.

Chet was born in the High Desert and has lived in Apple Valley for most of his life. Always ambitious and driven, Chet's entrepreneurial spirit came alive when he began to control High Desert mortuary business market. In 1997, he became partners with the owner of a prior competitor, Victor Valley Mortuary, and within three years they were able to purchase four additional mortuaries in the High Desert. Chet has served on the Board of Trustees of St. Mary Hospital, where he is the only Board Member to have been born at that hospital, and also sits on the Board for Friends of the Fair for the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds. He was named the Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 2002, and was named Service-Based Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2017 Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards for the Inland Empire. Chet serves as Chairman of the Board of the Sunset Hills Children's Foundation and the Topock 66 Children's Foundation.

Chet Hitt is one of the most kind, generous, and hard-working people in the High Desert, and is eminently deserving of this award. I offer my sincere congratulations to Chet on this recognition and my thanks for all the outstanding work he does in our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today recognize the service and commitment of Dillon Lesovsky, who received the Young Alumni Hall of Fame Award from the Victor Valley College Foundation on February 23, 2019.

Dillon is an entrepreneur at heart and has been since he was in his teens. In 2006, Dillon founded and operated a small business for six years which developed video content for the action sports industry as well as corporate projects throughout the U.S. He managed all aspects of production: developed budgets, drafted business proposals, negotiated with distributors, and managed contract staff. In 2013, I hired Dillon to serve as a Field Representative in my Apple Valley District Office, where he worked with federal agencies like Social Security and the Export-Import Bank to answer constituent questions, represented me at events in the High Desert community, and helped manage my social media accounts. In February of 2018, Dillon was recruited and hired by ComAv Asset Management to develop international business relationships within the commercial aircraft industry. Dillon has consistently exceeded his monthly sales quota in his region, and has also developed sales processes for a team of 17 sales staff to help them meet and exceed their sales goals. In his personal life, Dillon has a love of inside jokes and wishes to be a part of one someday.

Dillon was one of the best employees I have had, and it was a pleasure to have him on my staff. On behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives, I congratulate Dillon on his entrepreneurial spirit and his admission to the Young Alumni Hall of Fame

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service and commitment of Dr. Derek King, who received the Distinguished Service to Education Award from the Victor Valley College Foundation on February 23, 2019.

Dr. King currently holds the position of Assistant Superintendent of Student Services for Excelsior Charter Schools and has long been passionate about education and community service. A proud veteran of the U.S. Army, Dr. King began his teaching career with the Department of Defense Dependent Schools in Babenhausen Germany as part of the Troops to Teachers program. As an educator, Dr. King has served as a Teacher, Principal, Assistant Superintendent, Treasurer for the local Association of California School Administrators, and member of the California State School Attendance and Review Board. Dr. King was also elected to the Victor Valley Union High School District Governing Board, where he held the positions of Trustee, Clerk and Vice President. Dr. King has also been a fixture in our local community, and has held positions on the Victorville Military Affairs Committee, the Victor Valley Community Service Council, and served as Director and Chairman of the Board for the Victor Valley Chamber of Commerce.

I thank Dr. Derek King for his service to our community and country, and his commitment to educating our next generation. With educators like Dr. King, our local students will be well-equipped as they make their way into adulthood.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service and commitment of Roger Wagner, who received the Presidents' Award from the Victor Valley College Foundation on February 23, 2019.

Roger served as the Victor Valley College Superintendent and President for over four years and officially retired at the end of 2018. Prior to his retirement, he was instrumental in Victor Valley College receiving full accreditation from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. Roger has a passion for education and understands the importance of the college providing local students with an affordable and high quality education. Roger was responsible for a number of successes for the college, including hosting the 2017 Youth Poverty Symposium, opening the Automotive and Welding Facility, and developing new programs including Industrial Maintenance and Manufacturing programs. He is married to his wife Stacy and together they have two children.

Before my career in politics, I had the privilege of working with Roger at Copper Mountain College in the Morongo Basin. I can say from experience that Roger is an incredibly intelligent and hard-working individual with a true passion for education, and I can guarantee that he will be sorely missed at Victor Valley College. I congratulate Roger on receiving this award, and wish him all the best as he heads into retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service and commitment of Assistant Sheriff Lana Tomlin, who received the Alumni Hall of Fame Award from the Victor Valley College foundation on February 23, 2019.

Assistant Sheriff Tomlin is a dedicated public servant who has worked for the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department for over twenty-nine years. Soon after her graduation from the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department Training Academy, Assistant Sheriff Tomlin was assigned to the Barstow Station as a patrol deputy where she quickly excelled in her duties while simultaneously attending Victor Valley College. She is the first woman in the history of San Bernardino County to be appointed to Assistant Sheriff and oversees several departments and operations. Locally, Assistant Sheriff Tomlin has served multiple assignments at different High Desert stations, including serving as Captain of the Apple Valley Sheriffs Station. She has also volunteered throughout the community, from coaching the women's basketball team at Victor Valley College to giving back to our next generation through the Police Activities League program.

On behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives, I would like to congratulate Assistant Sheriff Lana Tomlin on this award. Lana is an exemplary law enforcement officer and community leader. I thank her for her years of dedication and service to the people of San Bernardino County.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service and commitment of outgoing Twentynine Palms City Council Member John Cole, who departed the dais on Tuesday, December 11, 2018.

John was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1945. He attended Loyola University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, and later attended Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff where he earned a Master of Arts in Education. John spent 41 years serving the Morongo Unified School District as a teacher and administrator. He was first elected to the Twentynine Palms City Council in 2008 and served the city for eight years, from 2008 to 2012 and from 2014 to 2018. In addition to his position as council member, John served as the City of Twentynine Palms' representative to the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District, the San Bernardino County Flood Control Advisory Committee, and as a Delegate for the League of California Cities' Environmental Committee. During his time on the council, John was an excellent advocate for the City of Twentynine Palms and its citizens.

I thank Council Member John Cole for his leadership and dedication to public service on behalf of Twentynine Palms residents. John's hard- work, experience, and wealth of knowledge will certainly be missed.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th birthday of Mary Josephine Trost from Yucaipa, California. Mary was born as Mary Josephine DeHetre on January 30, 1919 in Currie, Minnesota.

Growing up during the Great Depression, Mary saw her formal education end before the start of high school. Family medical issues and a failing national economy forced her into the workforce, where she held a variety of jobs. In 1938, Mary married Joseph Trost, and moved with him to his family's farm in Seaforth, Minnesota. They later moved to another farm in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota in 1944, where Joe began working as a mechanic in addition to his farming business. In 1951, Mary and Joe moved across the country to Colton, California, where Joe worked at nearby Norton Air Force Base. Following a three year trip to Guam for work, the family finally settled in Yucaipa, California in 1963. Over the next 56 years, Mary has become a staple in the local community. She has been active in St. Frances Xavier Catholic Church and the Catholic Daughter's Court Holy Spirit, where she serves as Grand Regent and recently received her 50 year pin. Mary has also seen the birth of 6 children, 13 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

Mary has lived an incredibly rich life that has spanned an entire century. I wish her a happy birthday as well as continued joy and happiness as she continues to be active in her church, family, and community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the exemplary law enforcement career of California Highway Patrol (CHP) Lieutenant Antonio Pena. On December 18, 2018, Lieutenant Pena will retire from the CHP after 29 years of service.

Antonio Pena began his career of public service by serving in the United States Air Force, where he attained the rank of sergeant. Following his military service, Antonio graduated from the CHP academy in 1989 and was assigned to the CHP South Los Angeles Office. After 11 years, Antonio moved on to the Inland Division Office and assumed the role of Sergeant in the Victorville CHP office. In 2001, he began working out of the Santa Fe Springs office, a position that allowed him to coordinate the Impaired Driving Task Force. His assignments during the final phases of his law enforcement career included Alta Dena and Barstow. He finished his career with the CHP as the Commander of the San Bernardino County Auto Theft Task Force.

On behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives, I would like to congratulate Antonio for his service to our nation, state, and community. His dedication and commitment to the profession of law enforcement reflects great credit upon himself and the California Highway Patrol.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and remember the outstanding life of Alma Newsom Fornal, 1st lieutenant of the U.S. Army Air Corp.

Mrs. Fornal, born in 1920, graduated from the University of Arkansas. Upon graduation she moved to Mississippi to be with her father, where she then took up flying. In 1943 she joined the Army Air Corps as a member of the pioneering group called the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs), making her one of the first women allowed to fly military aircraft. These trailblazing pilots were an integral part of the World War II war effort. Her contributions as a test pilot enabled safer flights of the AT-6 for male pilots serving overseas. In 2009 she was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by President Barack Obama.

Alma Newsom Fornal was laid to rest today December 19, 2018. Her dedication to serving our nation in its time of need is due the utmost respect and admiration, and her place in history and time of service will be honored. On behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I thank her for her patriotism and pioneering spirit which have paved the way for future generations.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the contributions that Sharon Haislip has made throughout her forty years of service towards the JPL Goldstone Deep Space Communication Complex (GDSCC).

Sharon began her career in Logistics at the GDSCC, and was promoted several times until becoming Production Control Specialist, and eventually served on the CSOC contract working as Property Coordinator. Her hard work and commitment led to expanded responsibilities as she developed a detailed knowledge of government property management. In the Property Office, Sharon was responsible for a wide range of logistics including government reporting and inventory of NASA property. Her work provided valuable records for gathering and tracking information on the history of an asset, including its status and performance capabilities. This information was critical to insure continued operation of telecommunications equipment across multiple sites as it was moved from location to location around the Goldstone complex.

Sharon Haislip retires on December 20, 2018. Her diligence towards her work has contributed significantly to the success of JPL NASA's Deep Space Network as each manned spaceflight mission, landing and planetary encounter has contributed towards humankind's understanding of the solar system and beyond. On behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I thank Sharon for all her contributions towards our local community and the future planetary advances that will result from her work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the heroic efforts of Officer David Gibson in preventing loss of life while in the line of duty.

On September 21, 2018 Officer Gibson came to assist a woman threatening to drive her car off a cliff, in an apparent suicide attempt. While another officer distracted the woman, Officer Gibson rushed to her vehicle from the opposite side, jumped in through an open window through the passenger's side and shut down the vehicle, risking great personal harm but successfully halting it's movement further off the cliff. The woman fought with Officer Gibson to restart the vehicle, but both officers were able to regain control and prevent her from turning on the vehicle again. Afterwards she was taken into custody and transported to a medical facility.

Officer Gibson demonstrated extreme devotion to his duty and the protection of others by endangering himself in an effort to save the life of another. These actions are honorable and representative of the great lengths our first responders go to better keep our community safe. On behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I thank Officer Gibson. His actions are recognized and it is an honor to have him serving the constituents of California's Eighth Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the contributions that Edward Messer has made throughout his thirty-five years of service towards the JPL Deep Space Network.

Edward Messer's 35 year contribution to our space program began in 1982, as an operations Station technician in charge of handling spacecraft telecommunications for orbital supports and support of human space missions. Edward soon had the opportunity to operate the Space Shuttle Command System, through which he manually transmitted commands to the shuttles, supporting many missions for the shuttle program. Additionally, Edward operated Shuttle TV which transmitted Shuttle live video to a global audience. In the late 1980's, Edward served as the Operations Chief Tech in the Deep Space Network, granting him the opportunity to support various launches, landings, and orbit insertions, as well as establishing and maintaining communication links with spacecraft journeying across the solar system. Missions throughout his career ranged from the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope and landing the Pathfinder mission on Mars to the orbital insertion and tracking of the Cassini mission studying the rings and moons

of Saturn. Edward was eventually promoted to Spacecraft Operations Shift Supervisor, giving him increased responsibility and oversight of a team of Link Operators.

Edward Messer retired from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory on September 28, 2018. Edward's commitment to his work and scientific endeavor has greatly contributed to our understanding of the solar system. On behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I thank Mr. Messer for all his contributions towards our local community and the future planetary advances that will result from his work.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Bishop for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a few minutes to talk about my bill, H.R. 5513, the Big Bear Land Exchange Act. This bill would authorize a land exchange of approximately 71 acres of land in the San Bernardino National Forest for approximately 73 acres of land currently owned by San Bernardino County.

This land would be used by the county to build a timber processing facility that would serve the mountain communities. Currently, trees and other forest waste are driven down the mountain through a narrow and winding pass to a processing facility in the valley, resulting in increased traffic congestion, significant wear and tear on mountain roads, and numerous traffic accidents. This has been exacerbated this week. We had quite a bit of snow, and, once again, it was very, very treacherous. Safety is always a problem on these mountain roads.

This land exchange would require the relocation of a small portion of the Pacific Crest Trail. I have worked closely with the Pacific Crest Trail Association to include language ensuring that the relocation would include environmental review and will occur before the exchange takes place.

This land exchange has virtually unanimous local support, including the city of Big Bear Lake, the Friends of Big Bear Valley, the Big Bear Fire Department, the Big Bear City Community Services Department, the Big Bear Municipal Water District, the Bear Valley Community Healthcare District, the Big Bear Chamber of Commerce, and the local Big Bear Group chapter of the Sierra Club. We haven't heard from the local bear associations at all. That is a bad joke. It passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee on a unanimous vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service and commitment of outgoing Victorville City Council Member Jim Kennedy who will leave the dais on Tuesday, December 4, 2018.

Jim was first elected to Victorville City Council in 2010 and has served the city for eight years, including terms as Mayor and Mayor Pro-tem. In addition to his position as council member, Jim has served as a board member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Inland Empire Chapter of the California Society of CPAs, the City Audit Committee, and as a delegate to Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority. During his time on the council, Jim has been a passionate advocate for Victorville and its residents. He supported key infrastructure projects including the Nisqualli/La Mesa interchange, which provided a key transit corridor to help alleviate traffic congestion. Jim also fought to keep Victorville residents safe, and consistently voted to add additional sheriff's deputies and firefighters to the city's budget.

I thank Council Member Jim Kennedy for his leadership and dedication to public service on behalf of Victorville residents. Jim has been a true model of civility and decorum on the Victorville City Council, and he will be sorely missed