Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the commitments and accomplishments of Barbara Palmer, 2012 President of the Santa Cruz County Association of Realtors. I have known Barbara for two decades and she is a dedicated professional with an abiding commitment to helping homeowners and making a lasting difference in her community. I am honored to call her a friend.

Barbara has served as the Federal District Coordinator for the tri- county area that includes Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties, representing the California Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors. I was pleased to work with Barbara when she was the Chair of the Local Government Relations Committee of the Santa Cruz County Association of Realtors from 2005-2007. She has provided unparalleled leadership on local and federal real estate issues.

Building community is the mission of every successful Realtor and Barbara has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life in Aptos with particular attention to bringing widespread awareness to the needs of public education to her community of Aptos and beyond. In 1999, she was awarded Woman of the Millennium by the Aptos Chamber of Commerce. The Santa Cruz County Association of Realtors awarded Barbara Palmer the Realtor of the Year in 2008. Barbara has spearheaded community projects and fundraisers throughout the years that bring attention to the needs of the diverse Santa Cruz County and its coastal environment.

Barbara Palmer has been a resident of Aptos, CA since 1978, with her husband Bob and sons Grant and Brad.

Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for the whole House as I commend Barbara Palmer of Aptos, CA for helping countless clients on the Central Coast of California achieve the American Dream--homeownership.

Mr. Speaker, over the weekend, like so many Americans, I tried to process the news of this horrible shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

There simply is no way to understand what could lead an individual to want to inflict that much harm and pain on so many innocent lives.

As I dealt with a range of emotions that surfaced not just as a Member of Congress but as a father and grandfather, I could not help but shake the feeling that there is more we could have done as a legislators to prevent this tragedy.

More that could have been done to help the shooter get the mental health treatment he so desperately needed.

More that could have done to prevent such a powerful weapon from getting into the hands of a troubled soul.

More that could have been done to protect the children of Newtown, Connecticut.

Today, I too pray for their community and those who lost their lives on Friday.

Today, I pray . . . but tomorrow, I vow to return to this Chamber and fight every day so that no other community has to deal with this gun madness.

May God bless the victims, their families and the people of Newtown, Connecticut.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Mike Tyner, a remarkable young man who died tragically last year. Mike was a field crew leader for the Ventana Wildlife Society's California Condor Reintroduction Program. During a powerful wind storm on November 30th, 2011, a falling tree branch struck and killed Mike when he was in the field in Big Sur, California, to ensure the safety of a newly released endangered condor. He was just 35 years old.

Mike graduated from California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Science degree in Ecology and Systematic Biology. He lived a life of accomplishment, serving as a research assistant at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a volunteer for the USDA Forest Service. He joined the Ventana Wildlife Society in 2002, studying songbirds along the Carmel River and conducting surveys for Spotted Owls in the Big Sur backcountry. He also achieved success in his work as an ornithologist, botanist, and a desert biological monitor.

In 2006, Mike began working full-time on Ventana Wildlife Society's California Condor Recovery program. He quickly rose to the position of field crew leader. Mike was dedicated to protecting condors, even in the most challenging conditions. During the 2008 Big Sur wildfire, Mike and his team safely rescued seven captive condors that were held in a field pen in the fire's path. Thanks in large part to Mike's efforts, all biologists and condors were brought to safety. Releasing a young condor into the wild was not only Mike's last act of service to our earth community, but it was an act that captured the essence of Mike's legacy.

Mike is survived by his loving mother, Nancy Ann Tyner; three sisters, Theresa Ann Guire, Mary Cynthia Clayton, and Kathleen Julie Morgan; two brothers, Timothy Gordon Skeens and John Eric Skeens; and his many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Jack Lue Tyner.

Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to rise today to honor the memory of Mike Tyner. Mike gave his life to help endangered species flourish, and his life is a reminder that we can all play a part in devoting ourselves to making the world a healthier and more beautiful place.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, George Miller, for setting aside this time.

You've heard from a lot of my colleagues. I think what is interesting about this moment in history is this is probably the largest retirement ever of any delegation at any one time. California is losing 25 percent of its incumbent delegation, seven Republicans and seven Democrats. That's 14 people that have been here. Of the seven Democrats, they were here for historical moments--of electing Nancy Pelosi from California, the first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives; and here to pass the first-in-history comprehensive health care bill, led by Californians, I might add, and led by the dean of our delegation, Pete Stark.

Pete Stark is one of the oldest, longest serving Members of Congress. He has been here 40 years. I think there are only two, three people that have served here longer. He's watched this delegation come and go since 1973. He is here tonight with his beautiful family.

Pete, of all the people coming into Congress, is the only one that just came right from the private sector. Most of us got elected to the local and State governments, but Pete came here with a background in MIT, in engineering, and then a degree from Berkeley in business administration. In 1963, he founded the Security National Bank of Walnut Creek, which became, during the war years, known as the progressive bank and the bank that was going to loan to people that weren't otherwise getting loans. He became a very popular leader in his community and built the bank into a $1 billion financial institution. Having a background in the Air Force and other civic activities, he ran for Congress and got elected and has been here, as I said, for 40 years.

He is here tonight with his children. He has four daughters, three sons, and eight grandchildren. He is married to Deborah Roderick, also of California. We're going to miss Pete. He's been a fixture for this Congress through all the big issues.

He is followed by Howard Berman from southern California, with a background in UCLA, a law degree from UCLA. I was a staff member when he was a California State legislator. He came there for the background in VISTA. After the assembly, he got elected to the House and has been the leading ranking Democrat, probably the most trusted person in all of Congress for foreign affairs; and with his background in labor, in issues for farmworkers in California and the advancement they've made under Federal law. But also, as the Leader pointed out, he's one of the few persons that really understands the intricacies of patent law, copyright, trademark, all those things very vitally important to the entertainment industry, the electronics industry, and the information technology industry. He's been a senior member on all of that. We're going to miss him deeply, deeply. I feel like a son of Howard Berman. I supported his

speakership way back when he ran for the State assembly. I'm going to miss him.

Lynn Woolsey has served 10 terms. She is senior to me. I got elected 6 months after Lynn got sworn into office. I remember how proud I was of her background in local government, in roles that she's played in Sonoma County, in Marin County. She's been, I think, on the floor speaking more than anybody else--as pointed out, 440 times speaking for peace. She's going to leave this body known as the ``lady of peace'' and will be here in history forever and ever. I remember the night that Bill Clinton gave his State of the Union address and recognized the backgrounds, the humble and unusual backgrounds of people that get here, that Lynn Woolsey was the first woman elected to Congress who, as a single mom, had to be on welfare and how she had worked her way out of that, and was a leading role model to show that there are opportunities for you, for all people in this great country. But the lady of peace is the most important of all.

Bob Filner, he had a background in local government. He went back to local government. After being involved in school districts, he is now the mayor of San Diego. He came here with his background of being a Freedom Rider and in the civil rights movement and led the Veterans' Committee here.

As we pointed out, Joe Baca will always be known as the captain of our baseball team. He did so well in that, but he also had a proud background, as the Leader said, in the Army as a paratrooper. The list goes on and on.

Laura Richardson is leaving us. I would also mention before this, the early resignation of Dennis Cardoza.

That's seven Democrats. We're going to miss them greatly. Thank you for allowing me to speak in favor of their great service to the United States Congress.

congressman pete stark

Congressman Pete Stark has served in Congress since 1973. A senior member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, he is currently the Ranking Minority Member of its Health Subcommittee. Stark previously served as the subcommittee's Chairman from 2007 to 2010 and 1985 to 1994, and previously as Ranking Minority Member from 1995 to 2006.

Before being elected to Congress in 1972, Stark was a successful businessman and banker. Upon entering Congress, he served on the House Banking and Currency Committee. After completing his first term, Stark was named to the Ways and Means Committee, whose scope includes taxes, Medicare, Social Security, trade and public assistance.

From 1981 to 1984, Stark served as Chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures. As Chairman, Stark became known as one of the Nation's foremost advocates of tax reform. He later served a critical role in shaping the historic tax reform act of 1986. In the years since, he has been a vocal voice for tax fairness and opposed the addition of corporate loopholes to our Nation's income tax laws.

In January of 1985, Stark became the Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee. As Chairman, he presided over major reforms to the Medicare system. While cutting billions of dollars in waste, fraud, and abuse, Stark expanded benefits for tens of millions of Medicare beneficiaries, provided COBRA health continuation benefits to workers, and made numerous improvements in the quality of our Nation's care.

As Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee from 2007 to 2010, Stark helped write the health reform law that is bringing quality, affordable health care to millions of Americans.

Stark champions universal health care, and speaks out for peace, freedom of choice, and protecting our environment. He is a tireless advocate for children, families, senior citizens, and people with disabilities, as well as the residents of the 13th Congressional District.

A diverse area stretching along the east side of the San Francisco Bay, the 13th Congressional District runs from Alameda to Fremont.

Stark is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT, with a degree in engineering and the University of California, Berkeley with a Master's degree in Business Administration, MBA.

In 1963, he founded Security National Bank in Walnut Creek. The bank grew from a small storefront operation to a a $1 billion financial institution with branches in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. Stark sold his interest in the bank after his election to Congress.

Before his business career, Stark served in the U.S. Air Force. His other civic activities have included: Director, Common Cause; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Starr King School of Ministry; Board Member, Housing Development Corporation; Board Member, Council for Civic Unity, and many others.

Stark has four daughters, three sons, and eight grandchildren. He is married to Deborah Roderick Stark of San Lorenzo.

congressman howard l. berman

Born in Los Angeles, California, Howard Berman attended U.C.L.A., where he received his B.A. in 1962 and his LL.B in 1965.

Upon his graduation from law school, Howard Berman began his career in public service with a year's work as a VISTA volunteer. From 1967 until 1973, he practiced law in Los Angeles, specializing in labor relations. In 1973, he was elected to the California State Assembly.

In his first term in the state legislature, then-Assemblyman Berman was named Assembly Majority leader, the youngest person ever to serve in that leadership capacity. He also served as Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus and the Policy Research Management Committee of the Assembly. In 1982, Berman was elected to Congress, where he was named to the Foreign Affairs and Judiciary Committees.

Congressman Berman is the Ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, meaning he is the most senior Democrat serving on the committee. During his tenure on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Berman negotiated a five-year, $50 billion reauthorization of our global HIV/ AIDS programs, authored legislation that removed Nelson Mandela and other members of the African National Congress from the U.S. terrorism list, and passed a bill to strengthen U.S. assistance to Israel. His top priorities include improving America's diplomatic strength through a reauthorization of the State Department, assistance to fight terrorism in Pakistan, and improving the efficiency of U.S. foreign aid.

As the second highest ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, Berman plays a key role in shaping the copyright, trademark, and patent laws that are of vital importance to the entertainment, biotechnology, broadcasting, pharmaceutical, telecommunication, consumer electronics, and information technology industries. Berman is a member of the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition, and the Internet.

Berman is particularly well-known for his ability to form bipartisan coalitions. Together with Republican Henry Hyde, Berman wrote a law authorizing embargoes on nations that support terrorism. With Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, he wrote amendments to the False Claims Act that have saved over $20 billion in taxpayer money since 1986.

``There a few House members who have made such an imprint on legislation in so many areas as Howard Berman,'' says the Almanac of American Politics. The Almanac goes on to call Berman ``one of the most aggressive and creative members of the House and one of the most clear- sighted operators in American politics.''

Congressman Berman and his wife, Janis Gail Berman, have two daughters, Brinley and Lindsey.

congresswoman lynn woolsey

Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey is in her 10th term as the representative from California's 6th District, just north of San Francisco. Her district includes all of Marin, and most of Sonoma County.

As president of Americans for Democratic Action, Congresswoman Woolsey is a vocal and visible leader on progressive issues, particularly those dealing with education, children and families. A passionate and outspoken opponent of the Iraq war, she helped move public opinion against President's Bush's failed Iraq policy. She introduced the first resolution calling for our troops to be brought home and has been called the ``the unofficial matriarch of the [antiwar] movement in Congress,'' by the San Jose Mercury News.

Congresswoman Woolsey is also active on labor and education issues. She is a senior member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. She also serves on Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

Congresswoman Woolsey was the author of a recent law authorizing workers six months of job protected leave in order to care for injured family members serving in the armed forces, as well as legislation to protect workers from exposure to dangerous chemicals.

One of Congresswoman Woolsey's top priorities is a legislative package called ``The Balancing Act,'' which aims to help parents balance their work and family responsibilities. Her proposal calls for: paid family leave; public universal pre-school; major investments in child care; universal school breakfast; benefits for part-time workers; and telecommuting incentives.

Congresswoman Woolsey is also a senior member of the Committee on Science, Space and Technology, and serves on the Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment, where she works to reduce our dependence

on foreign oil and promote the use of clean, efficient energy sources. In the current Congress, she has reintroduced her legislation to add the Sonoma coastline to the National Marine Sanctuary Program, thus protecting it from oil and gas drilling.

Having lived and raised her family in California's North Bay for over 40 years, Congresswoman Woolsey understands the concerns of Sonoma and Marin County residents. She frequently says they are the most important voice she listens to; and she not only listens, she responds. Her Washington office alone receives and answers over three thousand letters, phone calls, and emails from constituents each week.

Congresswoman Woolsey dedication to family issues and her belief in a strong social safety net are rooted in her personal history. As a young mother struggling to raise three children by herself, she needed public assistance just to make ends meet, even though she was employed.

The experience of needing a helping hand from her government has shaped her commitment to family-friendly policies.

Woolsey was born on November 3, 1937 in Seattle, Washington. Now living in Petaluma, California, she is the mother of four grown children and a grandmother of five.

congressman bob filner

Bob Filner's adult political career began when he was 18 years old during the Civil Right Movement. He spent several weeks in the Mississippi State Penitentiary as a Freedom Rider. ``My political optimism stems from those times. I believe by our individual involvement, we can change history! And, my commitment to a world free of racism and discrimination continues today.''

Just after receiving a Ph.D. in the history of science from Cornell University, he moved to San Diego and began a 20 year long teaching career at San Diego State University. Always the activist, he challenged his college students that their ``grand'' thoughts were futile unless they put them into action in order to help people and make the world a better place. And it's a lesson he continues to impress on others while in the United States Congress.

In the late 1970s Filner was frustrated with the local school board after announcing that his children's school was going to close (daughter, Erin and son, Adam). He felt his children weren't getting the education and attention they deserved. This led to his first run for San Diego School Board Member in 1979.

Filner's ``back to basics'' approach toward education--including mandatory homework--won wide support among parents all across San Diego. During his time the board hired a more responsive Superintendent, test scores went up, and million of dollars in bureaucratic waste was eliminated.

Therefore it was no surprise that under his leadership on these issues he was selected as School Board President in 1982.

This increasing civic involvement led to his election to the San Diego City Council in 1987 where he began taking on issues such as bringing good jobs to San Diego and broadening its economic base. He created the city's first Economic Conversion Committee and wrote the city's Economic Conversion Plan. He found creative ways to fight neighborhood crime, including the introduction of Police Walking Patrols and a Citizen Graffiti Patrol with the area's first 24-hour graffiti hotline.

Recognizing his ability to work with his colleagues, the council members selected him as Deputy Mayor in 1991.

In 1992, Filner was elected to the United States House of Representatives. In his first term in Congress, he was one of only a handful of freshman legislators to get legislation passed--for example a critical law amending the Clean Water Act, allowing San Diego to save billions of dollars.

Almost immediately upon his arrival in Washington, his request for an appointment to the Veterans' Affairs Committee was granted. And in 2006 was elected by his Democratic colleagues as Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Since January 2007, Congress has increased the Veterans Healthcare budget by 60%--the largest increase since the VA was created 79 years ago. Other victories include VA Home loans increased by 50%; the G.I. Bill was reinstated to meet the same level of education benefits, adjusted for cost-of-living increases, as that offered by the original World War II-era bill; benefits for Filipino-American veterans granted and legislation is pending for Merchant Marine veterans of World War II benefits. Filner says, ``This is the least we can do for our men and women in uniform who have sacrificed so much for us--we owe it to them!''

The 51st District--stretching the whole California/Mexico border, from San Diego to Yuma, Arizona--is one of the most diverse regions in the nation! It encompasses the southern portion of the City of San Diego, the South Bay cities of Chula Vista and National City, and all of Imperial Valley. The district's population is approximately 55% Latinos, 15% African-Americans, 15% Anglos and 15% Filipinos.

For 9 terms now, he has worked hard to both enhance his district's advantages while meeting its challenges. For example since many families in his district, and across the nation, suffer from sub- standard medical treatment, he has worked to provide affordable healthcare for border communities and all Americans.

While always looking for ways to embrace the opportunities the region provides, he does not back down from challenges specific to border communities.

His work on U.S.-Mexico relations led President Clinton to ask Filner to join him on an international mission to meet with former Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo. Again in 2004, with President Vicente Fox, he stepped forward to encourage increased cooperation and collaboration between the two nations. He took the lead in securing critical funding and support for the International Waste Water Treatment Plant in the Tijuana River Valley, as well as the New River in the Imperial Valley with the Water Resources Development Act of 2007.

He serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee as the Senior Democratic Member of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, a member of the Highway and Transit, Water Resources and Environment, and Aviation subcommittees. As Congressmen, he has brought home billions of dollars to improve roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure. At the same time he is constantly looking to the future in support of high-speed rail projects that would link San Diego with other areas of the state and Arizona and he secured funding to study suitable locations in Imperial Valley for the site of a new regional airport. Although these forward looking projects have been in the works for a long time, how appropriate they're labeled the ``Jobs Train.'' Not only would San Diego become a major national distribution hub, thousands of jobs in San Diego and Imperial Valley would be created!

Congressman Filner has built his career by ``walking his own talk''-- ``Grand thoughts are futile unless they are put into action in order to help people and make the world a better place.'' Help him to continue this work for a better California--and a better America! He cannot go it alone!

Congressman Joe Baca

Rep. Joe Baca has represented California's Inland Empire in the House of Representatives since winning a special election in 1999. He serves on the House Agriculture Committee, and is Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Horticulture. He also serves on the House Financial Services Committee.

Rep. Baca served as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, CHC, during the 110th Congress (2007-2008). During this time, he successfully blocked harmful English-only and anti-immigrant amendments offered in the House. He also guided the CHC in its efforts to ensure the contributions of Latino and Native America veterans were recognized in the PBS documentary ``The War.'' In addition, Rep. Baca used his leadership position to pass record breaking funding levels for food stamps and nutrition programs to feed over 44 million hungry Americans; and helped secure new funding for minority serving institutions, including over $200 million in new grant funding. He currently chairs the CHC Corporate America Task Force.

Rep. Baca continues to advocate in Congress on issues that impact the poor and underserved, including nutrition, housing, health, veterans' affairs, and issues affecting the Hispanic and Native American communities. He has used his experience in Congress to help secure over $154 million in federal appropriations assistance for education, public safety, transportation, and water projects. Congressman Baca is also the primary sponsor of the PROUD Act, legislation that puts responsible immigrant high school graduates on an expedited path to U.S. Citizenship.

Personal History--Joe was born in Belen, New Mexico, the youngest of 15 children in a house where little English was spoken. Joe worked shining shoes at age 10 and later worked as a laborer for the Santa Fe Railroad. He served in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper with both the 101st and the 82nd Airborne Divisions from 1966-68. Following military service, Joe earned his associates degree from Barstow Community College and his bachelor's degree in sociology from California State University, Los Angeles. In 1979, he became the first Latino elected to the board of Trustees for the San Bernardino Valley College District. He was elected to the State Assembly in 1992, where he became the first Latino Speaker pro Tempore, and was elected to the State Senate in 1998.

Joe and his wife, Barbara, began their own business, Interstate World Travel, in 1989. They have four children--Rialto City Councilman Joe Baca Jr., Jeremy, Natalie and Jennifer.

Awards--Rep. Baca has received many honors for his public service. Recent awards

include the U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute Edward R. Roybal/Henry B. Gonzalez award for Public Service, the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President's Achievement Award, the National Farmers Union Presidential Award for Leadership, the Walter Kaitz Foundation Diversity Advocate Award, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Coalition of Minority Employees Award of Excellence. He has been listed as one of the top 100 most influential Hispanic leaders in America by Latino Leaders Magazine. He also has two local parks named after him: the Joe Baca Senior Field at the Empire Center in Fontana and the Joe Baca Field at the Rialto Boys and Girls Club. In addition, the ``Joe Baca Middle School'' at 1640 S. Lilac Avenue in Rialto, California, is expected to open its doors in 2013.

Congresswoman Laura Richardson

Congresswoman Laura Richardson represents California's 37th District, which includes the communities of Long Beach, Compton, Carson, Watts, Willowbrook and Signal Hill, as well as parts of the City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County. She was sworn in to Congress in 2007 and is currently serving her 3rd term.

Congresswoman Richardson served the Long Beach community as a city councilwoman for six years before being elected to the California State Assembly in 2006. Following a special election in 2007, she immediately began serving in the House of Representatives, and as such, Congresswoman Richardson has the rare distinction of having served in government at the local, state, and federal level in the span of less than one year.

The Congresswoman currently sits on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, where she works to improve the Nation's highways, railways, airports, and seaports while overseeing the Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, and Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA. She is a member of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, the Highways & Transit Subcommittee and the Railroads, Pipelines & Hazardous Materials Subcommittee.

Congresswoman Richardson is also on the House Committee on Homeland Security. In this role, she works to protect America's borders and ensure the Nation is prepared for and able to effectively respond to any disasters that may arise. She is the Ranking Member for the Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications Subcommittee and also sits on the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies Subcommittee.

In addition to her House Committee assignments, the Congresswoman is a founding member of the California High-Speed Rail Commission, where she has worked to secure funding for a project that has the potential to create 450,000 permanent jobs statewide over the next 25 years.

In January of 2011, President Barack Obama signed into law the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2010, DERA, which Congresswoman Richardson authored. The legislation extends a voluntary national and state-level grant and loan program that creates jobs, saves lives and significantly improves the Nation's air quality. DERA is widely considered one of the most cost-effective federal programs in the Nation. The EPA has estimated that in California alone, the program averages more than $13 in health and economic benefits for every $1 in funding. Without the signing of Richardson's bill, the authorization for DERA would have expired at the end of the fiscal year.

Congresswoman Richardson graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and received an MBA from the USC Marshall School of Business. She spent 14 years working in the corporate sector at Xerox.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. John T. Collins, II, MPH who served for the past ten years as an elected Trustee of the Santa Cruz City School Board. A native of Santa Cruz, California, Mr. Collins earned his Master of Public Health Degree from San Jose State University, and his Bachelor of Science Degree in Health and Human Services Administration from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. In addition, I am honored to know John on a personal level as a dear friend.

As the Senior Vice President of Workforce Development Programs to Goodwill Industries of Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties, Inc. John brought his passion for creating opportunities into the Santa Cruz schools as an advocate for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, ensuring services to children with disabilities. He also addressed the needs of the Spanish speaking community with programs to help early language learners, and promoted the School to Careers program.

During his tenure, the Board passed four parcel taxes enabling them to build a new pool and a stadium for two high schools, improve their IT infrastructure, make classroom upgrades, and place solar arrays on nearly every school. Those years also saw improved test scores and college admission rates including to the highest ranked colleges such as the UC Berkeley, Harvard, Princeton, UCLA and Stanford.

Mr. Speaker, as John steps down as Trustee, I know that the many projects, issues, and problems that he helped tackle and solve have made the school district a better place for learning and growing. His guidance enriched the lives of the students, as well as the Monterey Bay region as a whole, and I know the whole House joins me in thanking John for his years of leadership in public education--well done!

Thank you for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight title VI of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012, which amends the Marine Debris Program.

This partnership between NOAA and the United States Coast Guard has been hugely beneficial to our Nation's coastal communities. It has improved research and debris removal activities at sea and has built a greater understanding of the challenges we face in addressing this threat. There are so many successful projects funded by the Marine Debris Program, which is astounding considering that the program spends far less than $10 million.

I want to highlight the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation NOAA grant program for Marine Debris Research and Technology. From 2005 to 2011, this program supported 46 projects involving fishermen, ports, and marinas, and they leveraged $2.7 million in NOAA funding with $2.9 million in non-Federal matching funds.

Another program, Fishing for Energy, is one innovative program that installs collection bins for commercial fishermen to dispose of old or unwanted fishing gear. To date, this program has disposed of more than 700

tons of obsolete or derelict gear, which annually accounts for $250 million in lost marketable lobster and which saves up to $792 million in damages to boat propellers from derelict fishing gear. If that isn't enough, an Energy-from-Waste facility recycles the gear and harnesses electricity from the recycling process. It doesn't cost the fishermen anything to dispose of this gear, and that's why it's such a successful program.

This small Federal investment results in a huge cost savings. Marine debris is a much larger and growing problem. With the disaster in Japan last year and with recent storms like Sandy, cleaning up debris requires both resources and coordination between agencies and States. While I commend the bipartisan support and leadership of my colleagues to get this bill to the President, I am disappointed that the program's authorization has not been extended. I will continue to work for the permanent reauthorization of the Marine Debris Program because it is a critical program for coastal communities.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill, which is one of bipartisan-bicameral compromise. I thank Chairman Mica, Chairman Hastings, Ranking Member Rahall, and Ranking Member Markey for their leadership in bringing my bill, H.R. 1171, to the floor for passage out of the House. I thank Chairman LoBiondo and Ranking Member Larsen for including this important language in the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012. I urge your support.

Mr. Speaker, what an honor it is to recognize the work and achievements of one of the nation's most remarkable mayors. Dennis Donohue will step down as the Mayor of Salinas in December after serving in that position since 2006. He leaves office after six remarkable years that saw the city gain national attention for its efforts to solidify itself as the center of the nation's diversified fresh salad economy and turning the city away from its decades-old gang violence problem. Dennis stood at head--and heart--of both of these efforts and his leadership on these and other issues will be felt around California for years.

As a young boy, Dennis' family moved to Salinas. He graduated from Palma High School in 1972 and, ever since, has been a fixture at Palma sporting events. He earned a BA from the University of San Francisco and an MA from Gannon University in Pennsylvania. He then returned to California where he worked for several years in Silicon Valley's high tech industry. In 1988, he returned to Salinas to begin a career in agriculture, eventually rising in 1998 to become CEO of Salinas based European Vegetable Specialties, the world's largest radicchio producer. In 2005-06, he served as Chairman of the Salinas based Grower-Shipper Association of Central California.

In addition to his business leadership, Dennis took on many community service roles. He

co-chaired the campaign committee for Measure V, a half-cent sales tax proposition that rescued the City from a fiscal emergency. He helped bring national attention to saving the city libraries by working with the Steering Committee of Rally Salinas!, a coalition formed to fundraise for Salinas' threatened libraries. He was a director on the board of Second Chance Youth Program, a gang-prevention nonprofit, since 1992; and on the Palma High School Board of Directors; and on many other boards, commissions, and community efforts.

Although Dennis is fond of reminding folks that Salinas is the 158th most populous city in the United States, it is still small in comparison to major metropolitan centers. In many ways it retains the feel of a small farm town. That is--except for the curse of a big city gang violence problem. Several years after his 2006 election as Mayor, the city's long standing gang problem erupted in an explosion of youth violence. Dennis helped lead a community wide collaborative effort to bring together law enforcement, social services, faith, and community leaders, to begin a sustained and comprehensive response. That effort has drawn national attention and the White House selected Salinas to be among just six cities nationally to participate in a pilot project to turn back gang violence. Helping to put Salinas on the long term path to solving this problem will perhaps be counted as his greatest achievement as Mayor.

Dennis is married to the former Paula Johnson, who grew up on the old Williams Ranch in the Alisal. Paula, an alumna of Notre Dame High School, teaches physical education at Harden Middle School. They have two adult children, Emily and Allan.

Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for the whole House in thanking Dennis and his family for his service as mayor. I thank him for being my delegate to the 2012 Presidential Electoral College where he proudly supported our president. I personally look forward with pleasure to working with citizen Donohue in the years to come. He will always be remembered for imagining a great city.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge California native and long-time Santa Cruz County resident, Jim Cochran, who established Swanton Berry Farm 29 years ago in Davenport, California. Since its establishment, Swanton Berry Farm has become the first modern organic strawberry farm in California, utilizing standards and methods that have become a model for organic and sustainable farming.

Jim has displayed an incredible commitment to social justice. He has created a safe and friendly work environment that provides living wages, a medical plan, a retirement plan, and vacation and holiday pay for agricultural workers. Additionally, employees of Swanton Berry Farm are provided with access to low-cost housing options, which more than 75% of Swanton Berry Farm employees take advantage of. Because of this commitment, Swanton Berry Farm has become the first organic strawberry farm in the United States to be unionized by the United Farm Workers of America.

Jim's commitment to sustainable organic farming and the well-being of agriculture workers continues in his work with Roots of Change. Roots of Change brings a diverse range of Californians to the table to build a common interest in food and farming so that every aspect of our food--from the time it's grown to the time it's eaten--can be healthy, safe, profitable, affordable, and fair.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise to honor Mr. Jim Cochran, his achievements with Swanton Berry Farm, and his commitment and service to sustainable agriculture and socially just business practices.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Thomas Helmut Griffin, who has shown exemplary commitment to both his country and his community.

Tom was adopted by an American Army Sergeant and brought to America in 1952. He worked nights at the US Post Office Rincon Annex during his senior year of high school in order to help support his family. After his high school graduation, Tom was appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated from West Point in 1963 and became an Infantry Officer.

Tom's Army career shows assignments as a Platoon Leader, Company Commander, and Operations Officer at the Battalion, Brigade and Joint Staff levels. He has also served as Executive Officer of a Company, Battalion, and Infantry Brigade, as Interim/Acting Battalion and Brigade Commander, and as Senior Advisor at Infantry, Battalion, and Regiment levels to Vietnamese Combat units.

Tom served three tours of duty in Vietnam as Infantry Airborne Ranger involved in direct combat. He was wounded by enemy fire during his first tour, yet continued fighting in hand-to-hand combat with enemy soldiers. During his second tour in Vietnam, he was a senior advisor to a Vietnamese Infantry Battalion. On his final tour of duty, he was an advisor to the 23rd Vietnamese Infantry Division Intelligence Staff in Kontem. He finished his service in the war as a Senior Advisor to a Vietnamese Infantry Regiment. Tom was the last American actually in contact and combat with the enemy in 1973.

For his exceptional service, Tom has been awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action, two Bronze Stars-one for heroism in ground combat--a Purple Heart, two Air Medals, four Army Commendation Medals, two Meritorious Service Medals, a Joint Services Commendation Medal, a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, numerous campaign medals, foreign awards, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Tom finished his 20 years of service in the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel of Infantry. His last two assignments were as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon, and at Fort Ord as a Brigade Executive Officer in the 7th Infantry Division.

But Tom's dedication to serving the people of his county and his community extends beyond his military career. Tom has earned his Master's Degree, a Specialists Degree, and a Doctorate. Licensed as a professional counselor, Tom uses his skills to help veterans and underserved or low-income families in Monterey County.

Tom spent seven years researching and studying Army families, with specific focus on the impact that military life has on children. He served the county's housing authority, with responsibility for the psycho-social services of 3,000 underserved, low-income families, many of them veteran families in need of assistance. He also built and started the HUD-mandated Family Self Sufficiency Program, which was selected by the National Housing Authority Association as one of the top three programs in the United States.

Tom has also served as a social worker for Child Protective Services in Monterey and Santa Clara Counties. He acted as a liaison between the counties and the service families for the Army, National Guard, and all active components.

In 1998, Tom became a member of Monterey County's Vietnam Veterans and the founding President of the Veteran's Transition Center. This program now owns 40 homes on the former Fort Ord and is housing 55 homeless veterans and families in a two-year program that leads from being homeless and jobless to self-sufficiency.

In June 2012, Tom put together a Stand Down for homeless veterans, where 297 homeless veterans including 10 homeless families were served.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to rise today to honor this man, Thomas Helmut Griffin, for his outstanding dedication, commitment, and service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of International Education Week which is a joint initiative created by the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Education 12 years ago and, as of today, is celebrated in more than 100 countries. Schools throughout the United States and the world are celebrating this week to promote and celebrate the benefits of international education and global exchange.

I saw firsthand the value of building international relationships during my time with the Peace Corps. Learning a foreign language opens minds to other worlds, builds lasting positive relationships, and has been scientifically proven to generate more flexibility in thinking-- something we are in great need of today. During all of my years representing the Central Coast of California, I have been an ardent supporter of culturally-based foreign language education within our schools, universities, and within our government institutions. Our future leaders must have strong global skills which are best attained by learning a foreign language and by studying or volunteering abroad. I am proud to say that Monterey, California, in particular is a great talent bank rich in foreign language and cultural expertise thanks in much part to our secondary school

teachers, the Monterey Institute of International Studies, the Defense Language Institute, the Joint Foreign Area Officers program at the Naval Post Graduate School, and the National Virtual Translation Center.

Mr. Speaker, I am confident that the Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and the Secretary of Education Arne Duncan would agree with me that to compete in today's global economy, students need an international education paired with studying foreign languages. The State Department and the Department of Education should be commended for developing and supporting International Education Week.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the 20th Anniversary of the Watsonville Wetlands Watch, which is a remarkable community organization in my district. Dedicated to the protection, restoration, and appreciation of the wetlands of the Pajaro Valley, this group engages members of the Watsonville community and students of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, drawing public attention to the rich uplands and dependant area wildlife.

Fed by the waters of the Pajaro Valley watershed, and linked together by nine species of fish and 250 species of birds, including many that are threatened or endangered, the six Sloughs of the Watsonville slough system form one of the largest remaining freshwater marshlands in the state's coastal zone. These Sloughs provide nursing grounds for fish and wildlife. Aquatic plants filter out impurities in the water, sequester carbon dioxide, and provide a buffer from land to sea-- protecting water quality from impacts of soil erosion and

protecting the land from the impacts of flooding. They also provide recreational opportunities.

Through the coordinated efforts of the Watsonville Wetlands Watch, hundreds of docents and volunteers are involved in green house native plant production and actively involved restoration work, attending regular monthly ``Restoration Day'' events. Through these efforts, and in collaboration with the city of Watsonville and the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Watsonville Wetlands Watch has supported a deep connection between the community of the Pajaro Valley and a healthy environment and watershed. Over the past 20 years, the Watsonville Wetlands Watch has grown from a small all-volunteer group doing slough cleanups, into the dynamic organization which we have today.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud the many accomplishments of the Watsonville Wetlands Watch, and I am proud to be associated with this vital work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the Fiftieth anniversary of Mee Memorial Hospital in King City, California. Founded in 1962 to replace an outmoded and inadequate facility, Mee Memorial has served its small town home and over 5,000 square miles of surrounding rural farms, ranches, and scattered residences with the highest quality medical care for the last half century. In that time it has grown into modern facility with a network of clinics serving the whole cross section of the local community, from farmworkes and local retirees to visiting U.S. Army Reserve soldiers training at nearby Fort Hunter Liggett.

In the late 1950s, South Monterey County leaders recognized the need to upgrade their community's medical care. Dr. L.M. Andrus and his son, Dr. L.H. Andrus, donated land for a new hospital. Local leaders secured part of the construction funding through the federal Hill-Burton Act. A community campaign raised the balance needed, with local ranchers Myrtle Mee and her son Tom Mee donating the final $150,000. They sold a valuable herd of cattle to complete the campaign. The campaign leadership named the hospital in memory of Myrtle's husband, George L. Mee, in recognition of this final critical effort.

Mee Memorial has kept up with the changing needs of the community and in 2001 built its present 199 bed facility adjacent to the original 1962 facility. This modern hospital is the core of the Mee Memorial Medical System in Southern Monterey County which also includes four outpatient health clinics in King City and one in the neighboring City of Greenfield.

In 1962, only 10,000 people called Southern Monterey County home. Today the population has grown to nearly 50,000, and Mee is still the only hospital within fifty miles. The hospital's on-site heliport, a project supported by the King City Lion's Club, transports critical patients to other facilities as needed. Today Mee Memorial employs more than 500 people. Over seventy-five volunteers are active in the Service League and Foundation, which sponsor many events and fund-raisers to provide valuable services and equipment to meet the needs of the patients. It is these people, the doctors, nurses, administrators, and the deep bench of community support, that make Mee such a vital part of Southern Monterey County's quality of life. Mee Memorial has seen some challenging times in recent years, but the skill, dedication, passion, and professionalism of these people ensure that Mee Memorial's future is a bright one.

Mr. Speaker, I know the whole House joins me in congratulating Mee Memorial Hospital on its anniversary, and wish them many more years of quality service to the public.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the 10th Annual Sea Otter Awareness Week, September 23-29, 2012 sponsored by Friends of the Sea Otter located in my congressional district. This week-long event highlights one of the most iconic species in California and the integral role they play in the near-shore marine ecosystem and draws public attention to sea otters and the conservation issues they face.

We all know that sea otter recovery has been met with challenges and sea otter populations remain threatened. Each day, research is uncovering additional causes of sea otter population declines. As a keystone species, sea otters hold the entire kelp forest ecosystem together, and as a bellwether species, they are an important indicator of the health of the marine environment. The decline of southern sea otters off of the California coast not only impacts the species itself, but also affects other marine populations and the surrounding ecosystems. The demise of sea otters allows their prey, sea urchins, to proliferate unchecked--leading to the alarming overgrazing of kelp beds, which function as critical nursery grounds for many marine animals, and also help to sequester CO2. Recent research has shown that spreading kelp can absorb as much as 12 times the CO2 from the atmosphere than would an urchin dominated system.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should be commended for their efforts in the recovery of the southern sea otter. Termination of the translocation program, allowing sea otters expansion into southern Californian waters, is a critical step along that path to recovery. I am concerned that language in the House version of the FY13 NDAA contains language that would impede the termination of this failed program and those flawed sections of the bill must be removed.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud the many accomplishments of Friends of the Sea Otter and other non-profit environmental organizations that work on southern sea otter recovery in the Monterey Bay region. The Monterey Bay Aquarium, researchers, fishermen, state and federal agencies, schools, and many other institutions and individuals devote tremendous time and resources to protect and recover the southern California sea otter. Sea Otter Awareness Week is just one of their many activities geared towards honoring and saving this species, and I am proud to be associated with this vital work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the work of Kevin Quigley, outgoing President of the National Peace Corps Association. After nine years at the NPCA, Kevin is moving on to serve as Peace Corps Country Director in Thailand, the country where he served as a Volunteer from 1976-1979.

Kevin's dedication to the Peace Corps community is evident in the legacy he leaves behind at the NPCA. Under his leadership, the association launched new programs designed to connect Returned Peace Corps Volunteers to schools and community groups in the United States that are interested in learning more about Peace Corps, established a mentoring program to assist volunteers returning from overseas service, and provided alumni with continued service learning travel opportunities to Peace Corps countries. Kevin also guided the NPCA into the digital age with the Africa Rural Connect Program, which provides an online platform allowing global collaboration to advance small-scale agricultural development initiatives in rural Africa, and NPCA Twitter Chat, a weekly online gathering of the Peace Corps community to discuss how to address key issues of the day.

Kevin brought a unique skill set to the NPCA, drawing from his experience as Senator John Heinz's Legislative Director, staff member at the Office of Management and Budget, and Vice Chairman of USAID's Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Assistance. He also served as Acting CEO of the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation, Executive Director of the Global Alliance for Workers and Communities, and Vice President of Policy and Business at the Asia Society.

And uniting many of Kevin's diverse abilities is his commitment to volunteerism. In addition to his Peace Corps service, Kevin played a founding role in the formation of the Building Bridges Coalition, a consortium of more than 200 leading organizations working collaboratively to promote the field of international volunteering.

Mr. Speaker, while I will miss collaborating with Kevin at the NPCA, I wish him the very best in his ongoing service to our country. Peace Corps Thailand is lucky to have him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reflect on one of the most important pieces of federal legislation impacting our coastal, great lakes and ocean resources stretching from Fagatele Bay in American Samoa to the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary along the East Coast. The National Marine Sanctuaries Act, which was signed on October 23, 1972, recognized the value of these national treasures; designating marine protected areas for current and future generations.

40 years later, communities across the country have seen real dividends from these federal investments and are expressing their interests in protecting their own waters. Reactivation of NOAA's Site Evaluation List, a scientifically rigorous and publicly reviewed list of sites, is being considered as part of the Strategic Action Plan to implement our National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the Great Lakes. It would bring a renewed commitment to conserve, protect, and enhance the biodiversity, ecological integrity and cultural legacy of our nation's system of marine protected areas.

In my experience, the most remarkable thing about the National Marine Sanctuary Program is the transformation which occurs when communities recognize they have the opportunity to become stewards of their local marine environment. I cannot emphasize enough that ours and future generations will increasingly depend on a healthy ocean--for ecological, economic, educational, scientific, social, cultural and recreational benefits, as well as for the food we eat. For me, the best example is the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, which this year celebrates its 20th Anniversary.

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary emerged from a collaboration of local officials, civic minded citizens, environmentalists and many others who were concerned about the possibility of oil drilling on the Central Coast. Their hard work resulted in the establishment of the largest marine sanctuary in the Continental U.S. It goes down more than 2 miles and is almost as deep as the Rockies are tall. Its undersea mountain--``Davidson Seamount''-- is higher than any coastal mountain, 7480 ft. tall, and it supports one of the most bio-diverse ecosystems in the world.

I am fortunate to represent a congressional district that has one of the greatest synergies of ocean science and research in the world. And it is through increased understanding of our marine sanctuaries that we become better stewards of our blue planet. The National Marine Sanctuary Program is charting the course forward through research and education and it is only fitting that, on this anniversary of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, we in Congress commend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act and all of our nation's sanctuaries for their significant work in advancing understanding and protection of the world's oceans.