Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Patricia ``Pat'' Derby, a world-renowned advocate, champion of animal rights, and a dear friend.

Patricia Bysshe Shelly was born June 7, 1942, in East Sussex, England, the second of two children born to Charles Boswell Shelley, a Cambridge University professor, and Mary, a homemaker. Pat's father died when she was 12, and at the age of 15 she immigrated by herself to New York City to pursue her dream of theatre and ballet. She enrolled at New York's Columbia University but later dropped out to pursue her Hollywood dreams in California.

While living in San Francisco, she met future husband and animal trainer Ted Derby and began working with him as a team, training animals for television and movies. Throughout the 1960's and 70's, Pat trained many exotic animals for Hollywood TV shows like ``Flipper,'' ``Lassie,'' and ``Gunsmoke.''

However, after many years of witnessing widespread abuse of exotic and performing animals, Pat quit the business and quickly became one of the most vocal critics of animal abuse in Hollywood.

In 1975, Pat wrote her best-selling book, ``The Lady and Her Tiger,'' which documented her time working with animals in the entertainment industry and brought to light the negative aspects of the industry's practices, which invariably made her an enemy of many Hollywood elite.

In 1984, Mrs. Derby and her lifetime associate, Ed Stewart, founded the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). Her hope what that this organization would serve to advocate for, and protect, the animals we see on a daily basis in TV shows and movies.

Pat's first, and most important, mission was always to educate others regarding animal rights and how organizations should approach caring for captive wild animals.

Pat also worked closely with government agencies, and kept her USDA and California Fish and Game permits up-to-date as there were few facilities to aid animals when she first started. These permits were initially used to start a sanctuary that has since grown from 30 acres to 2,300 acres in Galt, California which has housed everything from lions and wolves to a sick baby Elephant. Each of which lived out the entirety of its life in full health on Pat's sanctuary.

Pat's long time associate Ed Stewart wrote that when some people die they are unduly given ``hero'' status, and yet that is not Pat. She was a true hero in the animals rights world whose sole crusade was aimed at helping animals that could not protect or advocate for themselves. Pat realized that even wild animals need someone to look out for them, and she dedicated her life to that belief.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Patricia ``Pat'' Derby for her lifetime commitment to protecting the welfare of performing animals.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a brave and honorable community hero, the late Sergeant Loran Lee ``Butch'' Baker, Jr. A Sergeant in the Santa Cruz Police Department, Butch was known not only for his investigative ability and skills in gathering intelligence, but also for his larger-than-life personality, his commitment to his family, his

sense of humor, and his continual love for others. An avid sports fan, Butch enjoyed watching NASCAR races, and cheering for his favorite teams, The San Francisco Giants and The San Jose Sharks.

Butch was born in San Francisco, California in 1961, and met his future wife, Kelly, when they were only ten and eleven years old. In 1985, Butch joined the Santa Cruz Police Department, where he displayed an unwavering commitment to protect and defend the citizens of the City of Santa Cruz. In 1989, Butch earned a Medal of Valor in for his heroic actions following the earthquake. Additionally, Butch earned numerous state and federal law enforcement awards throughout his career.

Butch lost his life in a senseless act of violence, but his legacy will never be forgotten within our community, and throughout the extended law enforcement family. My thoughts are with Sergeant Baker's family, including his wife, Kelly, his daughters, Jillian and Ashley, and his son, Adam.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Sergeant Loran Lee ``Butch'' Baker, and to promise that his life and his legacy will never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 125th Anniversary of the Native Daughters of the Golden West Santa Cruz Parlor No. 26 (NDGW).

For 125 years, Santa Cruz Parlor No. 26 has participated in the projects of the NDGW, some of which involve Civic Participation, California History and Landmarks including CA Lighthouses, Children's Foundation, Education and Scholarships, Mission Restoration, Pioneer Roster, Veterans Welfare, and the Native Daughters' Home.

In the early years, Santa Cruz Parlor No. 26 raised money for a ``closed horse-drawn Carriage,'' as the county had no ambulance. By 1907 Santa Cruz Parlor was able to present an ambulance to Mayor Palmer and the members of the City Council. In 1939, a Wishing Well provided by the Santa Cruz Parlor and the Native Sons Parlor of Santa Cruz was dedicated with the funds going to help the NDGW Children's Foundation. These are only a few of the projects from the early years of the Parlor.

As time went on the activities and reputation of the Parlor attracted a number of eminent local women. Among these were Truella Lund, who was the first Santa Cruz female police officer, and Margaret Koch. Her articles helped in the restoration and preservation of local historical buildings, including an adobe building which is part of the Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park. Hulda Hoover McLean, niece of President Herbert Hoover and a respected local politician in her own right, joined Santa Cruz Parlor in 1950 and was an active member for many years.

Santa Cruz Parlor No. 26 continues its mission through various community projects. Each year they contribute to the Walnut Avenue Women's Center in Santa Cruz and the Valley Christmas Project in Ben Lomond. Santa Cruz Parlor packs over 300 gift bags every year for the Veterans at the Palo Alto Hospital and the Veterans Center in Capitola. In addition to these contributions, Santa Cruz gives generous college scholarships to high school students throughout Santa Cruz County.

In addition to its own projects, Santa Cruz Parlor also joins its District Parlors located in San Juan Bautista, Salinas and Monterey for a yearly benefit for the Native Daughters Home, and a Mission Restoration lunch fund raiser. Last year's funds provided assistance for the restoration of some of the historic statues located in the chapel of Mission Santa Cruz. In the past, funds from our Mission Restoration lunches have helped the nearby missions of San Miguel, Carmel, San Antonio, and San Juan Bautista.

Mr. Speaker, I know my fellow members of the House will join me in congratulating the Native Daughters of the Golden West Santa Cruz Parlor No. 26 on their 125th anniversary. We thank them for the many activities that improve the community and promote our heritage, and wish them many more years of service.

Mr. Speaker, every day, police officers place themselves in harm's way to protect our communities. It's that unselfish act that separates them from ordinary citizens. Through their willingness to serve, our brave policemen and -women represent the best of our country.

Sadly, last week, in my district, two fine officers, Sergeant Loran ``Butch'' Baker and Detective Elizabeth Butler, were killed in the line of duty in the small town of Santa Cruz, California. Sergeant Baker and Detective Butler are the first officers to be killed in the line of duty in the city's 137-year history.

Our prayers and sympathies are with the families and loved ones of these officers. And I'd like the House to take a brief moment of silence in their memory.

Sergeant Baker leaves behind a wife, two daughters and a son, who is a Community Service Officer with the Santa Cruz Police Department. Detective Butler leaves behind her partner and two young sons.

This is a horrible tragedy, and I join with the residents of the Central Coast to mourn this loss and to pay our respects to these two fallen heroes.

I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

I've been in Congress 20 years, and on the Appropriations Committee not quite that long. And never in my life have I seen us in such disarray.

This institution has failed to lead the Nation. It's failed to get its own act together. We can't do this in a transparent, normal process by adopting bills. We're operating on these emergency issues like continuing resolutions, sequestration.

We've got the Nation totally confused, the entire administration of government in the United States confused as to what tomorrow's going to bring. We don't know whether we're going to have enough money, or we're going to give you back some money. Are you going to lay off people? Are you going to cut their salaries?

We're in mass confusion, and our States and local governments are dependent on us getting our act together. I'm really surprised that we are failing to address the needs of this Nation.

Yes, we have a huge debt. Everybody in this Congress has a huge debt in their own life. It's called a mortgage. And we figure out a 30-year plan or a 15-year plan to pay it off.

Doing this by CR is totally irresponsible. I ask for a ``no'' vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mourn the loss of Peace Corps Volunteer Nicholas Castle. Nick died on February 7th at a hospital in Chengdu, China after a brief illness. By all accounts, Nick exemplified the best of what both America and Peace Corps has to offer the world. He was a bright young man from Brentwood, California who brought a sense of humor, creativity, and a willingness to say yes to his life.

Service played an important role in the all too brief arc of Nick's life. Growing up in Brentwood, he worked with the city Youth Commissioner to support community service events that raised money for annual scholarships for college-bound students. As an undergraduate at the University of California, Berkeley, Nick was equally as invested in service as the Director of Global Outreach Week, a week of activities demonstrating the actions and benefits students and faculty can have around the world. He also worked with the local Peace Corps campus recruiter to encourage students to apply to serve.

In August 2012, Nick was sworn in as a Peace Corps Volunteer in China where he taught university-level English in Guizhou Province. In his short time there, Nick left a big impression, through the English classes he taught, community office hours he hosted, and ping-pong and badminton games he played. It is no surprise that his students called him ``Mr. Sunshine.''

I offer my profound condolences to Nick's parents, David and Susan Castle, and to his three brothers. There is no deeper pain for a parent than the loss of a child. But Nick leaves behind a legacy of accomplishments that have forever made this world a better place.

Mr. Speaker, I had planned to be on the floor this morning to talk about the 52nd Anniversary of the founding of the Peace Corp.

However, something very unpeaceful happen in my district in Santa Cruz, CA recently that I need to speak about instead--Tuesday afternoon, two police officers were shot and killed, and a suspect was later killed by police.

When other officers arrived at the scene, they found the two detectives, Sgt. Loran ``Butch'' Baker, a 28-year veteran, and detective Elizabeth Butler, a 10-year veteran, shot and killed outside a residence.

Sgt. Baker and Detective Butler are the first officers to be killed in the line of duty in the city's history.

Sgt. Baker leaves behind a wife, two daughters and a son, who is a community service officer with the Santa Cruz Police Department.

Detective Butler leaves behind her partner and two young sons.

This is a horrible tragedy, and I join with all residents of the Central Coast, to mourn this loss and to pay our respects to these two outstanding officers.

Our prayers and sympathies are with the families and loved ones of the officers who gave their lives in the line of duty.

While the words of comfort we offer today are sincere, our actions and deeds will be the true test of our resolve. If we are truly committed to ending gun violence in our communities, we must be willing to find real solutions to prevent this type of senseless shooting from occurring again.

We owe that much to the brave men and women who put on a police uniform every day.

We must be willing to protect those who so bravely protect us.

As a community, we promise that the sacrifices of Sgt. Baker and Detective Butler will not be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 52nd anniversary of Peace Corps. For over 5 decades, through war and conflict, Peace Corps has sent Americans to distant lands to serve others in the common cause of global peace. Since 1961, over 210,000 Americans have served at the request of 139 developing countries. I am proud to be a part of these ranks. Peace Corps changed my life. And it changes the lives of those who serve and the communities that are served.

As I speak, over 8,000 Americans are serving in 76 countries. This includes my constituent Nelly Alcantar from King City, CA. Nelly is helping English teachers with lesson planning, classroom management and language development in Panama. She also started an adult community English course. Then there's Jonathan Lupisan from Salinas, CA. He's a Community Health Education Volunteer in Suriname who helped build a computer lab at the local primary school and developed illustrations for a water and sanitation project manual.

Mr. Speaker, I commend Nelly, Jonathan and the hundreds of thousands of other Peace Corps Volunteers, past and present for fulfilling the vision of President John F. Kennedy. You represent America's highest ideals: peace, equality and friendship. Thank you for your service.

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, we have two choices. We will be able to vote on this floor on a Senate version of the Violence Against Women Act. We will also have a House version that will try to be amended to that bill.

There are several reasons why the House version is not a good bill and ought to be opposed. In my district, the immigrant provisions left out of the House bill will have a profound impact on my constituents. Immigrant women are at risk of domestic violence more than any other women, and they are less likely to report their attackers due to fear of deportation. The Senate version offers protections that the House bill does not.

I have several college campuses in my district. The Senate bill would help combat violent crimes on college campuses; the House bill does not. The Senate version of the Violence Against Women Act also includes the reauthorization of the Trafficking Victims' Protection Act; the House bill does not.

Mr. Speaker, sadly, domestic violence affects the entire country. That is why it is absolutely a shame that the Republican leadership has brought up a House bill that will jeopardize the safety of millions of women by making it even harder to receive the services and programs that are available.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the opening of Pinnacles National Park, the 59th National Park in the United States. I want to thank Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar for joining us to celebrate the opening of Pinnacles National Park on February 11, 2013.

Pinnacles truly is a special place. There are few words that can describe the feeling of watching a California condor spread its massive wings as it soars high above the volcanic spires or the beauty of the Park's wildflowers painted upon the landscape by the springtime sun.

Native Americans were the first to discover the cliffs of Pinnacles. The Chalon and Mutsun groups of the Ohlone people lived here thousands of years ago. This place was more than just a home to these native tribes; it was the center of their community. As our nation spread west and homesteaders began to settle on the Central Coast, they too were drawn to this spot. Led by Schuler Hain, who the wilderness of Pinnacles is now named for, they would hike into the park to explore the Talus Caves or picnic in the open meadows. Realizing that this was a special place worthy of protection for generations to enjoy, Schuler Hain gathered the community and preservation efforts were launched. Then, in 1908 President Theodore Roosevelt established Pinnacles National Monument. A century later, understanding the economic potential of a National Park designation, surrounding counties again turned to Pinnacles as a means to support their communities.

I would like to thank Representative Jeff Denham, who co-sponsored the bill, Senator Barbara Boxer for championing the bill in the Senate and President Obama in making Pinnacles a national park thus achieving the dream of Schuler Hain and President Theodore Roosevelt.

I can't help but think of the pride my father, who as a state Senator protected so many special places here in California, would have felt if he were alive to see the creation of the ninth national park here in his home state. I also think of my friend and my first campaign chair, Ansel Adams, whose iconic photographs captured the unbelievable beauty of this country, inspiring a whole new generation of Americans to experience our other great parks. Finally, I think of the Ansel Adams of this generation, Director Ken Burns, a supporter of elevating Pinnacles to a national park, whose documentary series National Parks: America's Best Idea captured the story of our country's efforts to set aside land for protection.

He and his business partner, Dayton Duncan wrote:

``National parks are truly `America's best idea,' an idea that for nearly 150 years has kept evolving and expanding, not just in the United States but across the entire world. It is the Declaration of Independence written upon the landscape, a statement that a nation's most majestic and sacred places should be preserved for all time and for everyone . . .

``Pinnacles National Park, like so many in our history, is the result of the dedication of individual citizens who worked tirelessly to save a special place they loved, so that others could love it and appreciate it as well. It has a deep history that matches its beauty . . .

``We cannot think of a better way to express our feelings than to quote John Muir, who had this to say about the people responsible for the birth of a new national park: `Happy will be [the ones] who, having the power and the love and the benevolent forecast [to create a park] will do it. They will not be forgotten. The trees and their lovers will sing their praises, and generations yet unborn will rise up and call them blessed.' ''

Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to call Pinnacles a national park. I encourage all Americans to come visit this truly special place and be inspired to go home and preserve the special places in their own communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Uni-Capitol Washington Internship Program. Since its inception 14 years ago, the program has placed some of Australia's best and most passionate university students with House and Senate offices for two-month full- time internships annually. These internships have enabled me and my staff, who have participated since the program's inception, to share in our common values and ideals while at the same time learning more about the culture and people of Australia.

This year, I am delighted to welcome Elizabeth Flora into my Washington, DC office. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in this valuable exchange program, meeting Australian students that have a passion for American politics. Since its commencement, the program has seen more than 130 young Australians walk the halls of Congress in various capacities and it is with the utmost pride that I recognize the importance of the Uni-Capitol Washington Internship Program in the United States House of Representatives.

Elizabeth joined my office on January 2, 2013 from the University of Canberra where she is pursuing her B.A. in Communications and Media. During her time in my office, Elizabeth has proven herself to be a caring, humorous, intelligent and dedicated intern and I am honored to host her. In addition to serving my constituents with professionalism and respect, she has attended hearings and briefings, drafted legislative correspondence and has assisted my staffers with a variety of important research projects.

In addition to working in offices throughout Congress, all Uni- Capitol Washington interns are given the opportunity to explore our brand of democracy through panel discussions with political correspondents, Members of Congress and representatives from various government offices as well as professionals at non-government agencies.

Founded and directed by former House and Senate staffer, Eric Federing, the program fosters cultural and educational exchanges between the United States and Australia. Mr. Federing deserves distinguished praise for his efforts and dedication in coordinating this program, and the support and opportunities he provides to all participants is truly incredible.

Mr. Speaker, I cannot fully express how critical this program is to strengthening ties with America's allies and offering inspiration for the students of today that may become the leaders of tomorrow. Participating in this program has been a remarkable experience that has inspired Elizabeth for her future endeavors and gave my office the sincere pleasure of having an Australian working among us. I extend my sincere appreciation to Mr. Federing for developing and organizing this program, to my fellow Members of Congress and their dedicated staff for hosting, to Elizabeth for grasping this opportunity with an open heart and a curious mind and to all participants for engaging in public service. I ask my colleagues to join with me in recognizing the contributions of the Uni-Capitol Washington Internship Program and, again, thanking Elizabeth Flora for her admirable participation and diligent work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sandra Faber, a University of California, Santa Cruz Professor, who has been selected by the White House to receive the National Medal of Science for her inspiring contributions to the fields of astronomy and astrophysics. Sandra is not only an exceptional and passionate educator; she is an innovative and dedicated scientist.

Sandra is an observational astronomer who specializes in research on cosmology and galaxy formation. She has co-authored nearly 250 scientific papers, which have been cited over 37,000 times. Sandra is currently leading the CANDELS project, the largest project in the history of the Hubble Space Telescope. Her team is making revolutionary discoveries on cosmic evolution and is working to give scientists a view of galaxy formation nearly back to the Big Bang.

A member of the National Academy of Sciences, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society, Sandra has received many additional awards and honors for her scientific achievements. In 2009, she received the Franklin Institute's Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science. In the past year, she was recognized with two lifetime achievement awards, the Bruce Medal of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and the Russell Prize of the American Astronomical Society.

Sandra is thrilled to be one of 12 recipients of the National Medal of Science and wants to express her gratitude to the University of Santa Cruz and University of California Observatories. She recognizes that without the collaboration of her fellow scientists and the world class equipment provided by these institutions, her amazing contributions would not have been possible.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to rise today to honor Sandra Faber for her outstanding commitment and dedication to higher education and the scientific community.

It was a very historic time in Washington, D.C., yesterday, with not only the swearing in of the President of the United States, but doing it on the occasion that marks Martin Luther King's birthday holiday here in the United States. What a day for hundreds of thousands of youth from around this country to see their Capital in action and today visiting the Congress itself.

Today, we also celebrate the historic enactment of Roe v. Wade. What an absolute honor and privilege it is to live in a country that does not deny access to health care. I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Latin America, and my sister died on the operating table because there was not adequate health care. When you don't have it, you can't get it, no matter what. And so this country protects women's rights to see a doctor in their own privacy and discuss what their needs may be. No Congress should stand in the way of denying people access to health care, including the right to an abortion.

So let's protect what the Supreme Court has honored and celebrate on this historic day all kinds of great things in this great country, including Roe v. Wade, America's anniversary of the right to health care for women.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill to name the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense joint clinic to be constructed in my district the William H. Gourley Federal Outpatient Clinic: A Joint VA-DOD Health Care Facility.

General Gourley was fond of championing his own special commandments, his own 10 Golden Rules. His 10th Golden Rule was: make a better Army and Corps for your subordinates to inherit. In his 36 years of service, General Gourley did just that.

Whether sharing MREs in Germany with Private Elvis Presley or serving at the Pentagon on the staff for the Joint Chiefs alongside General Colin Powell, General Gourley worked tirelessly to improve the lives of men and women in the United States military. Even in his retirement, the general's vision was to build a health care center on the site of the former Fort Ord that would serve both the needs of Active Duty and retired military personnel.

As we prepare to break ground at this new facility, it is only fitting that the joint clinic bear the name of the man who inspired its creation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and work of a remarkable mother, wife, friend, and public servant. Charlotte Ellsworth passed away just before Christmas. I had the great fortune of meeting her through her work at the Fort Ord Reuse Authority, where I often encountered her during meetings or events related to the reuse of Fort Ord. At FORA, Charlotte was the ever present cheerful voice on the phone or steady presence at sometimes heated public meetings. I know that all of us who have worked with FORA, either as community leaders, members of the public, or her colleagues, will miss her very much.

Charlotte was born in Carmel, California, on January 5, 1953. Her family lived in Seaside, California, at the time, but moved to nearby Prunedale in 1954. Her father was a painter and foreman of a glass shop on Fort Ord and was eventually promoted as Engineer of the Presidio of Monterey. She attended Echo Valley Elementary School in Prunedale and graduated from Watsonville High School in the class of 1970.

Charlotte was a lifelong member of the Las Lomas Full Gospel Church in Watsonville, where she married Kenneth Ellsworth, a soldier at Fort Ord, in 1974. In 1975, Charlotte and Ken moved to Castroville, where she lived until her passing. Charlotte and Ken welcomed a son, Kenneth Jr., in 1976. Kenneth Jr. and his wife, Edith, both serve as police officers in Salinas, California. They recently welcomed a baby girl, Alyssa, who was the light of Charlotte's life and who Ken Sr. laughingly says ``will not be a police officer.''

Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for the whole House in extending our condolences to Charlotte Ellsworth's family, friends, and colleagues. The loss of such a remarkable person is particularly painful. I hope that all of those affected by her early passing can take comfort in the remarkable difference that she made in the lives of all those that she touched.