Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I was proud to vote for the American Rescue Plan because I knew it was the transformational investment we needed to get the pandemic under control and our economy back on track.

Two months later, it is clear the investment has paid off. We have gotten more shots in arms, lifted families out of poverty, helped children get back to school, helped businesses stay open, and helped workers keep their jobs. And we are just getting started.

Much of the vital support for workers and families included in the American Rescue Plan is still underway. One of these measures is the expansion of the child tax credit, a historic investment in the future of our country.

It has become harder and harder to afford a college education, a home, and childcare.

As the cost of living continues to soar and wages continue to stagnate, the American Dream is slipping out of reach for many working families. We need to level the playing field so every child has the opportunity to fulfill their potential.

The child tax credit expansion means working-class families will get $300 per child under 6, and $250 per child for children aged 7-17. $300 a month helps put food on the table so kids do not go hungry. It helps pay for child care so parents can get back to work and build a better life for their families. And it helps cover healthcare expenses so children stay healthy.

This lifeline benefits a whopping 85 percent of the children in my district on the central coast of California. That means a stronger economic foundation for over 135,000 children in our community. For the 11,200 children in my community living in poverty, the child tax credit could make all the difference in their lives and their futures.

I come from a low-income family myself, a working-class family, so I know that $300 a month would have lifted a financial burden off my parents' shoulders, who already worked so hard to give me and my siblings a chance for a better life.

Advance monthly payments of the child tax credit will start to be sent out in July and last through December 2021. Families will get the remaining tax credit when they file their 2021 tax returns. Families can make sure they get an accurate payment quickly by filing their 2020 tax return as soon as possible.

Even individuals who lost their jobs during the pandemic or do not normally file taxes, should file this year to receive the credit. The IRS needs the information from the tax returns to calculate and issue the monthly child tax credit payments.

I will continue to fight for working families in Congress so they keep their hard-earned money in their pockets, and every child has the means to achieve the American Dream.

Mr. Speaker, a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic requires bold investment, and that is what the American Rescue Plan is.

This bill invests $20 billion to get shots in arms and make sure everyone knows where, when, and how to get a vaccine.

Many students are back in school or are going back soon. California will get $15 billion to reopen safely and keep schools open to make up for lost time.

We have also invested in the backbone of our economy: small businesses. In fact, economists believe this bill can bring us back to near full employment in about a year.

To ensure local governments can keep providing essential services, this bill delivers over $259 million to cities and counties in my district alone.

Finally, this package invests in the American people. Direct payments, unemployment benefits, tax credits, and healthcare subsidies will help lift 12 million people out of poverty.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to voting for this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I am humbled to represent the central coast of California, one of the most beautiful districts in the Nation, if not the most beautiful. Places like Los Padres National Forest and the Carrizo Plain National Monument contain some of the most stunning and diverse ecosystems found anywhere in North America.

Today, I am pleased to support H.R. 803, the Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act. This bill would preserve the natural beauty and recreational activities available to communities in my district and beyond.

This measure includes my legislation, H.R. 973, the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act. I am proud to have worked with Chairman Grijalva, Representative Brownley, Representative Panetta, and local stakeholders to ensure that California's central coast was included in this bill.

In particular, I want to thank the Carrizo Plain Conservancy, Los Padres Forest Watch, Condor Trail Association, CalWild, Pew Charitable Trusts, and the Sierra Club for their support and advocacy on behalf of our public lands.

Title IV of this environmental package would designate nearly 250,000 acres of public land within the Los Padres National Forest and the Carrizo Plain National Monument as wilderness areas, the highest form of Federal protection available. It also creates a 400-mile Condor National Scenic Trail stretching from Los Angeles to Monterey County.

This bill is the culmination of years of collaboration with local stakeholders and community members. It has garnered support from nearly 500 central coast landowners, businesses, farmers, and local officials; a testament that protecting our environment and growing our economy are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they go hand in hand.

In California alone, the outdoor recreation economy is worth $92 billion and employs over 650,000 people. Jobs in manufacturing, retail, and tourism rely on access to the great outdoors. Climate change poses a serious threat to this sector of our economy and communities like mine will bear the brunt of this crisis.

Nearly 25 percent of greenhouse gas emissions come from oil drilling. That is one reason I am glad the Biden administration has set an ambitious goal to protect 30 percent of our public lands by 2030. This bill will help us get there.

Our public lands are an essential asset to our environment and tourism economy. Passing this bill means we can protect both for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the military service of World War II veteran Melvin L. Marks, a Santa Barbara city resident in my district, who turns 95 years old on July 10, 2019.

Mel Marks was born in Des Moines IA in 1924, and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943. In his three years of service as an intelligence observer in the 124th Battalion, he participated in a number of notable campaigns, including the Battle of Britain and the Battle of the Bulge. His service brought him to England, Holland, Belgium, and Germany, where he crossed the Rhine in March of 1945.

Mel Marks is a member of the Greatest Generation, as journalist Tom Brokaw calls it, meaning the men and women who fought not to seek fame or recognition, but simply because it was the right thing to do.

Of the more than 16 million who served in the United States Armed Forces during World

War II, fewer than 500,000 are still with us today, and we're losing about 350 of them every day.

After the war, Mel came to Chicago and married the former Mary Harris, who herself just turned 89, and the two of them have raised three children, have five grandchildren spread across the country, and will be celebrating their 69th wedding anniversary this Fall.

Mel has had a distinguished career as a journalist, management and marketing consultant, and published author. One of his best-known books is ``Yesterday's Warriors,'' which recounts his experiences in the War and his band of brothers who remained friends for a lifetime.

It is with particular pride that we recognize the service and wonderful life of a veteran who is not just still with us, but alive and kicking.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, I am offering an amendment to make it clear to the administration that we will not sit idly by as they attempt to open up our shores to further oil and gas development. We will not allow our treasured natural resources to be sold to Big Oil, and we will not put corporate profits above protecting our environment and our local coastal economies.

My amendment would put in place a moratorium on offshore oil and gas drilling and related activities in the four planning areas off the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf for fiscal year 2020.

My constituents on the central Coast have seen firsthand the devastating impacts of some of the largest oil spills in California history, like the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill. Most recently, the 2015 Plains All American oil spill in my district cost $92 million to clean up. These incidents show us that we cannot afford yet another disastrous oil spill.

In contrast, California's coastal region generates over $1.9 trillion of GDP and supports more than $731 billion in wages.

Future oil drilling would pose a direct threat to our local economies, businesses, and tourism, which are tied to our clean oceans and healthy ecosystem.

Since the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, there has not been a new or expanded lease in California State waters, or one in Federal waters since 1984.

This policy has enjoyed support from both Republican and Democratic administrations. Yet this administration today seems tone deaf to this reality. Instead, they are asking to hold seven new lease sales in the four planning areas off the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf.

I urge passage of my amendment, which would protect nearly 650,000 jobs in our region.

Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Kilmer).

Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the life of Etelvina Menchaca. Ms. Menchaca was a dedicated activist in my district who was very passionate about her community and public service.

Etelvina Menchaca was born in Santa Barbara, California on September 8, 1938 to Isabela Davila and Juan Gallegos. She was raised by her Godmother Feliz (Pita) Menchaca and Antonio Serrano as well as long- time family friend Jose (Tuti) Hernandez. Ms. Menchaca was influenced at an early age, by her adopted mother Pita, to be a community activist. She began serving food to the homeless and helping Latino immigrant families transition to the United States. Ms. Menchaca was also a leading voice on children's education through migrant education. She marched and worked alongside Cesar Chavez, lobbied in Washington DC alongside Dolores Huerta, and helped organize and train thousands of Latino families throughout the western United States for over fifty years.

Ms. Menchaca joined parents from throughout California in advocating for AB 1308 and SB 218 which authorized Migrant Education programs under Chapter 1 Categorical programs. She worked with Santa Barbara County Superintendents of Schools Dall'Armi and Cirone on a partnership to implement those programs locally. She was also appointed as parent representative from the Santa Barbara School District for Migrant Education, State Parent Advisor for All Chaptered Education programs and State representative at the federal level.

Additionally, Ms. Menchaca served in leadership roles on the boards of many community and state organizations including La Casa de la Raza, the Mariachi Festival, C.I.N.A.C., and the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #442 Woman's Auxiliary. Ms. Menchaca also received Latina Woman of the Year.

It was an honor to know and work with Ms. Menchaca. Today I join the Menchaca Family and Santa Barbara community in celebrating the extraordinary life of Etelvina Menchaca.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the life of Mrs. Nannie E. Wilkins, a matriarch of CA-24's NAACP Chapter. Mrs. Wilkins was described as ``a social justice and human and civil rights champion,'' because of her hard work fighting for equal rights in the Central Coast.

Nannie Elizabeth Browning was born in Mebane, North Carolina on March 13, 1927 to John Henry Browning and Annie Pearl Richmond. As a young woman, she studied at North Carolina AT&T and earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Commercial Education--an extraordinary accomplishment for women of color at the time. In 1951, Nannie E. Browning married Smiley Edward Wilkins, a member of the U.S. Air Force. Nannie was an ambitious go-getter; she encouraged Smiley to become an officer and used her education and fiscal know-how to raise and run the family.

In 1972, after Smiley retired from the military, the Wilkins family moved to Lompoc, where Nannie continued her life in community and public service. She selflessly served as a hospice volunteer and on the Executive Committee of the Santa Maria-Lompoc Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for more than forty-three years.

Alongside her husband, former President of the NAACP, she tackled race-based discrimination in their community. She was a Silver Life and Golden Heritage member of the NAACP, serving as the Communication, Press & Publicity Chair. Among her valiant strides towards justice, she also served as a Diaconate at the Valley of the Flowers United Church of Christ for thirty years and was a dedicated member of Lompoc Alpha Club for twenty-five years.

Nannie passed away on May 9, 2019 at her home in Lompoc, California at the age of ninety-two. Her soul and legacy as a Civil Rights champion lives on in her loving family, her friends, and every community member liberated and inspired by her courageous efforts.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to join the nation and the Wilkins Family in celebrating the special life of Nannie Elizabeth Wilkins.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the life of Conrad Gonzales. Mr. Gonzales was described as ``an ordained minister with street experience who was very passionate about his work and who had a rare gift to inspire, motivate, and guide teens.''

Mr. Gonzales was born and raised in the small town of Santa Paula, CA. For a few years, he and his wife lived in Santa Barbara before permanently moving to Lompoc in 1984, where he dedicated thirty-three years of his life to helping youth and preaching the word of God.

While in Lompoc, Mr. Gonzales had a reputation for his ability to mentor troubled and at-risk youth, earning the nickname of Lompoc's ``Kid Whisperer.'' Most of his work in Lompoc was carried out at the church he founded, Cornerstone Church, and at the Boys & Girls Club. During the thirteen years that Mr. Gonzales directed and oversaw Lompoc's Boys & Girls Club teen program, he expanded it from a small group of 25 kids to around 400 strong.

As a result of his work, Mr. Gonzales had received numerous accolades during his life. One of those being the renaming of the teen center at the Boys & Girls Club to the ``The Conrad Gonzales Teen Center.'' Other honors included being the first recipient of the Valley of Flowers Peace Prize Award as well as being the recipient of a Distinguished Service Award from the Kiwanis Club of Lompoc.

Mr. Gonzales passed away on December 27, 2018, after a bout with Lou Gehrig's disease, but his soul lives on in his loving family, his friends, and every troubled and at-risk teen he aided and inspired along the way.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to join with the nation and the Gonzales Family in celebrating the special life of Conrad Gonzales.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019.

This Nation was founded by immigrants who believed that if you work hard and play by the rules, you can achieve the American Dream.

When the Trump administration announced its heartless decision to rescind DACA protections, it turned its back on the core beliefs of our country and put over 800,000 young immigrants who know America as their only home in a state of fear.

Dreamers are hardworking and law-abiding Americans. They are our military servicemen and -women, our neighbors, and our children's classmates. They make our country a better place for all.

After years of tireless advocacy and living in distress, Dreamers and TPS recipients deserve clarity. I am proud to support H.R. 6, which will offer them an earned pathway to citizenship. Now more than ever, we must stand firmly behind our Dreamers and acknowledge their countless social, economic, and cultural contributions to the United States.

Please know that I will not stop fighting for all young immigrants and Dreamers. I urge my colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 6 this week.

Mr. Speaker, this weekend we will be celebrating the life and legacy of one of my exceptional constituents, Nancy K. Johnson, who left us on January 10 of this year.

Nancy was truly a force to be reckoned with. Born in Chicago, she later moved to Santa Maria, California, with her husband, Ned, where they raised five children.

She was very active in the community and was a founding member of the Santa Maria Valley League of Women Voters, a board member and counselor at Planned Parenthood, a member of the Pismo Beach Presbyterian Church, and a nationally recognized city and county planning commissioner.

Nancy also volunteered her time with the Santa Barbara Foundation, Transitions-Mental Health, SBCAN, and the Women's Fund for North County.

She had a true passion for the arts and was a longtime supporter of PCPA community theater and the Santa Maria Symphony.

It was an honor to know and work with Nancy. Nancy will always be remembered for her passion and work towards justice and equality for all.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the importance of buying American-grown flowers.

Whether it is celebrating a wedding or graduation, or sending condolences, flowers have been used to mark significant occasions for thousands of years.

I have seen the value this industry adds to our economy and communities during my visits with our hardworking central coast farmers and workers. The cut flower industry generates thousands of jobs and produces $1.2 billion in economic activity each year through flower farmers, distributors, and florists.

California grows an astonishing 75 percent of American-grown flowers, yet only a fraction of the flowers sold across the country were grown here. That must change.

This week, Senator Feinstein and I introduced a resolution to designate July as American Grown Flower Month and to encourage consumers to buy flowers with the ``Certified American Grown'' label.

By passing H.R. 379, we will honor the beauty this industry brings to our homes year-round and help keep our American-grown flower industry prosperous.

I urge my colleagues to join us in this effort.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Dr. Tania Israel for her Congressional Women of the Year Award and for all the incredible work she does to improve the quality of life on the Central Coast.

Dr. Tania Israel is a Professor of Counseling Psychology at UCSB who has provided leadership in the Santa Barbara community and beyond for decades. In 2010, Dr. Israel collaborated with several Santa Barbara nonprofits to lead a community-based participatory research project which surveyed the LGBTQ community about their perceptions and concerns, which led to a mandatory 5-hour workshop on LGBTQ issues for all sworn police officers in the City of Santa Barbara. The workshop almost immediately proved to significantly improve relations between police and the LGBTQ community.

Most recently, Dr. Israel has designed and presented a two-hour interactive workshop, titled Beyond the Bubble, to help participants engage in productive dialogues across political lines by building their skills in active listening, managing emotions, and perspective taking. Hundreds of people in Santa Barbara County have taken advantage of Beyond the Bubble in workshops delivered to the Santa Maria-Lompoc NAACP, the Santa Barbara Progressive Coalition, Congregation B'nai B'rith, and a League of Women Voters community forum, among others. Dr. Israel has not charged any of these organizations or their participants for her time and expertise, instead describing the workshop as her offering to our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Anahi Mendoza for her Congressional Women of the Year Award and for all the incredible work she does to improve the quality of life on the Central Coast.

After graduating from Harvard University, and working two years on immigration cases in New York City, Anahi Mendoza realized that the city she grew up in, Santa Maria, is largely populated by Hispanic agriculture people and many of these people are immigrants in risk of been deported and been separated from their families. Starting with her passion for civil rights and immigration law coupled with the help of generous donors, Anahi founded the Santa Barbara County immigrant Legal Defense Center. The center has been helping many immigrant families in our local community. Anahi has been conducting Know Your Rights presentations in Santa Barbara County so that immigrants are informed of their rights should they encounter Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She has worked extensively to create community clinics to screen individuals for immigration relief, assess their criminal record, and determine whether they have a final order of deportation. Anahi works

alongside pro-bono attorneys in the area to help immigrant individuals in detention centers. Thanks to her efforts, she is definitely making a huge impact within the Hispanic community on the Central Coast.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Sandi Sigurdson for her Congressional Women of the Year Award and for all the incredible work she does to improve the quality of life on the Central Coast.

Sandi Sigurdson's fierce commitment to community, to professional excellence and to the kind of hard work that creates meaningful change has served the Central Coast, especially its women, well. Her early concerns about the environment moved her from the hospitality industry into a senior position with the then-fledgling ECO SLO. She grew the organization in visibility and prominence, creating mainstream awareness of environmental issues. Sandi's adroit management abilities and love of music led her next to the SLO Symphony, where for fifteen years she managed an award winning organization that made its way to Carnegie Hall and concert performances in Europe, spawned a youth symphony and brought music to the masses, especially to young children. She mentored

her young female employees, many of whom today hold executive positions throughout the country. And for the last eight years as executive director of Leadership SLO, Sandi has taken her talents to an even larger stage. Sandi is first to raise her hand when help is needed, proud to speak up on topics needing a voice and is a woman who always, truly always, keeps the greater good firmly in her sight.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Yessenia Marroquin for her Congressional Women of the Year Award and for all the incredible work she does to improve the quality of life on the Central Coast.

Yessenia has been serving our community for over 20 years through her work at Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics--and she is not even 40 years old! She came to this country from El Salvador as a child and has excelled ever since due to her intelligence, perseverance and good nature. She began at SBNC in college as a volunteer. Over the years, she has worked as a medical assistant, clinic manager and now serves as the Director of Operations. She is an unsung hero of SBNC according to her colleagues. She has remained dedicated and calm through multiple challenges and the clinic almost shutting its doors. Through it all, Yessenia and her warm smile were a beacon for its employees and patients. She has led numerous initiatives at SBNC that have resulted in better patient care, coordination with other community partners and ensuring SBNC is meeting the needs of the Hispanic Community. I am glad to recognize her work to make Santa Barbara healthier, especially for the most vulnerable.