Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Carol Hartunian Girvetz of Santa Cruz, California. Carol Hartunian Girvetz passed away on July 4th, 2010. Carol will be remembered always as a loving mother, loyal wife, and dedicated citizen committed to her community.

Carol Hartunian Girvetz was born in Hollywood in 1946 to Armenian immigrant parents. She spent her early years as a young adult studying Art and English at UC Santa Barbara. After college, she began her career as a teacher and quickly changed paths upon taking a job with Pan American as a flight attendant. During this time, she worked on many R&R flights tending to soldiers from the Vietnam War as they traveled to meet their loved ones back at home, and then returning them back to the battlefield.

After her days of traveling with Pan American, Carol returned to California to begin her new life as a wife and mother. Carol and her husband George raised their two children, Evan and Shyla in the small town of Freedom in Santa Cruz County. Her connection with the community was immediate as she became enmeshed in the community's needs. She served on the Women's Commission and along with several women, started the first shelter for female victims of domestic violence. This achievement would be the first of many in her thirty years of service to Santa Cruz County. Carol most recently retired from the position of Assistant County Administrative Officer, where I had worked with her for years. Carol was known by her colleagues for her strong work ethic, great sense of humor, and devotion to public service. She was an extraordinary person and public employee who will always be remembered and missed by her colleagues.

In addition to her work in public service, Carol was also heavily involved in local fine arts in Santa Cruz. She played a large role in the development of the McPherson Center for Art and History. She also served as a board member for such organizations as United Way of Santa Cruz County and Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, among others. Her hard work has given the community and future generations the opportunity to be immersed in fine arts. Her life is a testament to how the commitment of public service can leave a lasting impact on a community.

Madam Speaker, I ask members of the House to join me in honoring the life of Carol Hartunian Girvetz, and extend our nation's deepest gratitude to her thirty years of service to her community. Carol lived sixty-four years of life filled with the love of her family, passion for public service and the arts, and will be greatly missed.

Madam Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today to mourn the loss of a soldier constituent, U.S. Army Specialist Roger Lee, 26, of Monterey, California. He was a brave soldier who fought valiantly for our freedom. More importantly, he was a proud father, a loyal husband, a caring brother, and a devoted son.

Roger Lee was born and raised in Monterey, California. He came from a loving family that followed the American Dream by starting a family- owned business on California's Central Coast. Roger graduated from Monterey High School and later went to the Arizona Automotive Institute in Glendale, Arizona where he met his wife, Elvina Lee.

In 2005, Roger and Elvina Lee celebrated the birth of their daughter Jazmyne Lee. Shortly after, in 2007, Roger made the decision to enlist in the United States Army, both to fulfill his lifelong goal of serving our country and to build a better life for his wife and daughter. Specialist Lee served in United States Army 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment based in Hohenfies, Germany.

On July 6, 2010, insurgents attacked Specialist Lee's vehicle near Qalat, Afghanistan, with an improvised explosive device. He ultimately perished from the wounds inflicted by that attack. For his actions and service to our county, Roger was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

Madam Speaker, I know that I speak for the whole House in offering our deepest sympathies to Specialist Lee's family and friends. Our nation extends its deepest gratitude for Specialist Lee's service to the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5566, the Prevention of Interstate Commerce in Animal Crush Videos Act of 2010. This bill will ban the sale and distribution of so-called animal crush videos. In reality, they are shocking displays of animal cruelty.

This bill was introduced in response to the Supreme Court's decision in U.S. v. Stevens to strike down a previous law that banned these videos, as unconstitutional. The sponsor of the new bill, Congressman Gallegly, worked with law and constitutional scholars to ensure that this bill is narrowly tailored to be able to survive strict First Amendment scrutiny while still banning the sale and distribution of these horrific videos.

Additionally, for the opponents out there who incorrectly object to the bill on the grounds that it may restrict hunting and fishing rights, the bill clarifies that depictions of hunting, fishing, trapping and common animal husbandry practices are exempt.

As many of my colleagues know, I have had a lifelong love and compassion for animals of all kinds. That is why I am simply shocked at the cruelty exhibited in these videos. What upsets me more is that there is an audience out there that enjoys the brutality depicted in these videos.

I supported the original legislation that banned the depiction of animal cruelty in the 106th Congress. Today I want to strongly add my support to H.R. 5566, the Prevention of Interstate Commerce in Animal Crush Videos Act of 2010.

Mr. Speaker, it is past time that this inhumane and cruel practice is once and for all put to an end.

Mr. Speaker, 10 years ago, the United States Congress enacted legislation to create an Oceans Commission to look at how we can prevent the oceans from dying. Yesterday, the President of the United States enacted, by Executive order, the first national oceans policy and governance for the oceans and Great Lakes of the United States--our greatest national heritage and our greatest national trust.

We, the people, are going to be taking care of the oceans like they've never been taken care of before. We're not going to allow the conflicts of the sea of overfishing, of overmining, of overdrilling, of overeverything and dumping all of our waste and garbage and sewage into the oceans. We're now going to have a policy that's like the clean air policy, where we cleaned up the air in America, cleaned up the water in America with the Clean Water Act.

Thank you, Mr. President, for being the best steward our oceans have ever had and implementing the recommendations of the National Oceans Commission, which Congress enacted but could not enact legislation. Hopefully, we'll move out from here and the world will see and the children will appreciate the actions that the President took yesterday.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the California Rodeo Salinas on the occasion of its centennial anniversary. For 100 years, the California Rodeo Salinas has both preserved the legacy of California's early Spanish ranchero culture and supported countless charitable and community endeavors in the Salinas Valley.

The Salinas Rodeo is the largest rodeo in the state of California with more than 50,000 visitors each year. Locals take great pride in the event and insist on its Spanish pronunciation as the ``row-day- oh.''

In 1911, civic boosters organized the first rodeo as a Wild West Show and attracted a trainload of visitors from San Francisco. Crowds steadily grew in the following years and it became one of the largest rodeo competitions in the world. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Rodeo organizers canceled the event for the duration of the war. It wasn't until 1947 that the organizers were able to restart the show.

The Salinas Rodeo is held every July and includes a range of rodeo competitions, including professional bull riding, bareback riding, bull fighting, barrel racing, saddle bronc riding, steer wresting and team roping. Nearly 1,000 contestants compete every year from all over the United States and Mexico for prize money totaling $300,000.

The event also includes other events including the Kiddie Kapers Western themed kids costume parade, the Colmo del Rodeo lighted night parade, the downtown horse parade and the Miss California Rodeo Salinas pageant. In 2008, the Rodeo was honored with their induction into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.

The Rodeo has also been an active partner in the community. Through the Rodeo, local schools and charities are given the opportunity to earn money every year by selling goods during the event. The Rodeo also gives out scholarships annually to several high school seniors. Over the years, these community contributions have totaled over $250,000. And the Salinas Valley community has embraced the Rodeo, making the event its own and providing more than 1,200 volunteers each year.

Madam Speaker, in closing, I want to hold up the California Rodeo Salinas as a cultural event that brings joy and prosperity to its community every year. May its continued success inspire many more generations to celebrate our nation's cultural heritage and participate in its future.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a public servant who has spent the past 36 years serving our troops and veterans. Richard Garza, Director of Monterey County

Military and Veterans Affairs Office, has assisted countless constituents with the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. Today, Richard begins his retirement, but he will always continue to be an advocate for the men and women who've worn our nation's uniform.

Richard Garza was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1948. In 1961, he moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and has been a California resident since. From 1968 to 1970, Richard was drafted and served in the United States Army. After his period of service, he continued his education. He received a Bachelor's of Arts in Interdisciplinary Social Science from California State University, San Francisco and a Master's of Public Administration from California State University, Hayward.

Richard began his public service career in 1974 as a Benefits Counselor and Program Administrator with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. In 1980, he continued serving veterans as the Veterans Service Officer of Sonoma County. Since 2003, Richard has been with the Military and Veterans Affairs Office of Monterey County. As Director of the county office, he has assisted veterans with the Department of Veterans Affairs, and welcomed home returning troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. Moreover, Richard is the first individual in the State of California to become a Certified Veterans Advocate through the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers.

Madam Speaker, Richard Garza has dedicated his life to taking care of our veterans and troops. I know I speak for the whole House when I both commend him for his dedication to public service and congratulate him on the occasion of his retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a modern agriculture pioneer, Mr. Bill Ramsey of Salinas, California, on the occasion of his recognition by the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California with its E.E. ``Gene'' Harden Award for Lifetime Achievement. Bill is a quiet, unassuming, and humble man. One would know by looking at him that he is a giant among men for his business and civic leadership.

Beginning in the 1960s, when he assumed key leadership positions within the Mann Packing produce company, Bill helped lead the growth of the U.S. fresh produce industry. Alongside his business partner and friend, the late Don Nucci, Bill helped expand the U.S. market for broccoli and all manner of value added and ready to eat fresh produce. If you have ever eaten broccoli, you can credit Bill's leadership with helping to get it to your plate fresh, safe, and at a reasonable price.

Mr. Ramsey's peers in the agricultural industry have recognized him in several ways. Mr. Ramsey served as both the Chairman of the Board of Western Growers Association and as President of the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California. Mr. Ramsey has also been honored as the Salinas Jaycees Outstanding Young Farmer, as well as receiving the Harden Award which recognizes leadership qualities, devotion to the betterment of the agricultural industry, community service, and those with a high level of ethics and integrity.

Mr. Ramsey's devotion to his community goes well beyond the agricultural aspects. His contributions to the community of Salinas include being the President of the Salinas City School District Board of Trustees, Founder and Chairman of Valley of the World Awards for the National Steinbeck Center, Director of the California Rodeo, Distinguished Fellow (Agriculture) of CSU Monterey Bay, YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, Sun Street Center, and Salinas Rotary (Rotarian of the Year). Bill Ramsey has also honored his country by serving in the United States Navy.

Madam Speaker, I hope my fellow members of the House will join me in honoring Bill Ramsey for his many contributions to the agricultural industry, his local community, and his country. And while Bill will not hesitate to credit those around him for his success, it is appropriate that our Nation recognize what an important contribution that he has made to our health, economy, and culture.

Mr. Speaker, I'm a proud lifelong member of the NAACP, and today I join my colleagues in celebrating its 101st anniversary.

The Monterey County Branch of the NAACP was created in 1932. Our chapter now ranks as one of the largest per capita branches in the United States and has been active in education and law--and we're all better for it. In 1947, the Fort Ord Army training base in Seaside, CA--one of the largest bases in the U.S.--was the first military base in the United States to be integrated.

As we recognize the great achievements of one of America's finest organizations, let us not forget that the struggle continues. Our country was founded on the ideal of equality for all, with the self- evident right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The mission of the NAACP is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.

I want to thank the NAACP for 101 years of hard work. You've made America a stronger and better nation. I especially want to thank my constituent, Ben Jealous, now the youngest national president of the NAACP. Your work continues, but we congratulate you on this historic day.

Thank you, Congressman Garamendi. It was such a pleasure serving with you in the California legislature when we adopted a lot of legislation dealing with handling oil.

Tonight I would like to share with you essentially a tale of two States, States that are both oil-producing States, States that both have offshore oil drilling, and those two States are California and Louisiana.

Mr. Speaker, the comparison here is one that essentially I really want to ask Governor Jindal: Ask not what the Federal Government can do for Louisiana, but what Louisiana should be doing for its own constituency, as California has done for its constituency, knowing that we have an oil economy, somewhat of an oil economy in the State, and certainly an offshore oil economy.

The comparison is this. Both States have an oil response. California has a strong law on oil response. Louisiana has a very weak law on oil response. Why? That is something that Louisiana ought to correct. The California statute has stations throughout California, places to clean up wildlife. It is paid for, it is implemented. It is essentially large, wildlife veterinary hospitals. The one in my district, you could even bring a small whale in there and operate on it. Louisiana has no such network, no such program, and no such allocation of resources.

Another big disability, big difference between the two, liability caps. Louisiana has a cap on liability. California has no cap on damages. Louisiana has a cap on damages. When you and I and our colleague, Jackie Speier, who has joined us here, were all members of the State legislature, I authored legislation that you sponsored to put a strict liability on oil spills in California, a remarkable law. There is strict liability that has no cap on damages under State law.

Louisiana, being a friend of the oil companies, puts caps on damages. They are not asking for that cap right now, they are asking it to be raised.

The big difference number three between California and Louisiana, both offshore oil drilling States, is civil and criminal penalties. California sets up involved civil and criminal penalties, a whole section of law. Louisiana has no civil or criminal penalties.

Louisiana, come on. If you are going to cry now where is the Federal Government when you have a problem, why haven't you risen to the occasion? California has had that law in place since 1990. Your law was enacted in 1991 with no teeth. It is about time you took responsibility for putting some teeth into your State law.

Lastly, what both States have is a Coastal Zone Management Act created by the Federal Government. There is a nifty provision in that act. It is called consistency provision. What that means is the State can review any proposal to do offshore oil drilling, whether it is in Federal waters or State waters. And as long as you have an adopted plan and that plan can explain why you should condition that oil drilling, or even deny that oil drilling in Federal waters, you have the power at the State level to do that. We in California have used that power and prevented the Federal Government from expanding its offshore oil drilling.

We are going further now with the bill that Mr. Garamendi has because we realize that drilling for oil off coast is high risk and low gain. You really don't get a lot out of it. And the risk we can see in spades from what is happening in the gulf right now.

So Louisiana, don't cry for what the Federal Government is not doing, cry for yourself as to what you are not doing to help your own constituency, put teeth in the laws that would allow you to deny those offshore oil drilling rigs, to put conditions on those offshore oil drilling rigs, to allow you to have the money to clean up the mess and help the wildlife, to put teeth in the penalties and to raise those caps. So we want to see our coastal States have a strong law. And most of all, we think if you really look at it, we shouldn't be drilling offshore at all.

Lastly, I want to change the issue because one of it is about money. There is money that comes into the Federal Treasury from offshore oil drilling. It produces $23.2 billion; $23.2 billion. Out of that, Congress has authorized the expenditure of about $5 billion in five programs: American Indian tribes get some of that money; historic preservation gets some of that money; lands and water conservation fund which is essentially land more than water, it is on land not offshore, get some of that money; the reclamation fund gets some of the money; and there are two funds that go back to the States.

But out of the $23 billion fund, $5 billion, less than 20 percent, is spent. Where does the rest of it go, into the United States Treasury. And guess what, all of that money made from offshore oil drilling and not a penny spent on the ocean. We have a big source of income that the United States Government can use to start with renewable resources, start investing in the oceans, and create an ocean fund and ocean governance plan so it isn't chaos at sea, it is a planned, organized, smart way to use the ocean, just like we have learned smart ways to use the land.

I commend you on your bill and on your work, and thank you for inviting me to be here tonight.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as co-chair of the Congressional Tourism Caucus to remind this Nation that we should not let an oil spill ruin our vacation. Disasters drive people away from wherever there is a disastrous incident. In the Gulf States, local tourism is suffering from it. It's suffering

from the greatest oil spill in American history.

Mr. President, when you address the Nation tonight, I hope you will urge them to visit the Gulf States to shore up the local economy and have BP pay for that tourism promotion. I urge you to have the coastal State Governors support a regional tourism plan for the Gulf States for this summer, for now, immediately.

A disaster of this proportion is a disaster of national significance. It's time that we as a Nation respond by spending our money and our time in those communities most affected. God bless America. Let's promote tourism.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Federico's Drive In Shoe Service, a local icon in my Central Coast Congressional District, on its 70th anniversary. Since 1940, Federico's has served the Monterey Bay area with exemplary craftsmanship, the highest quality materials, and quick and efficient service.

Charles Federico began his career at the age of fourteen. The young apprentice was assigned to the shoe shine stand for his first two years, and then graduated to replacing heels. Within ten years he had purchased his first store, handling shoe repair in one corner and selling fishing gear in another.

His business, then called Franklin Shoe Repair, expanded quickly; in 1957 he added the extra convenience of a drive-up window to his Monterey store which greatly increased the volume of business, and he also opened a second shop on the former Fort Ord Army Base. He paid particular attention to shop appearance, workmanship, merchandising and shop management. In 1958 he won the National Leather and Shoe Finders Association National Silver Cup Contest, as being the best shoe repair store in America. Over the years he and his son, Henry, have won 27 local and regional industry awards.

Members of my family have patronized Federico's shop for decades, and many of their customers cite their outstanding product knowledge and customer service as reasons for their loyalty. Charles is now ninety- three and his son, Henry, runs the shop. They have branched out into engraving trophies and sewing logo merchandise. Their employees carry on the traditions that won them the Silver Cup so many years ago.

Madam Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in wishing Federico's a very happy 70th Anniversary, and many more to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution, which I sponsored with many other Members of Congress. And I would first of all like to thank the committee and the leadership they provided in a bipartisan fashion to bring this bill to the floor.

As has been stated, the ocean is our largest public trust. It covers two-thirds of the planet. It's responsible for one-third of the total gross domestic product of the United States. It is closely linked to our day-to-day activities and, frankly, to the success of our Nation.

Tom Friedman said, ``A crisis is a terrible thing to waste.'' We cannot let the crisis that has happened in the gulf pass us by. We've faced disasters in this country before, and we have moved to act. After Rachel Carson wrote ``Silent Spring'' in 1962, and the Santa Barbara oil spill happened in 1969, the environmental movement took a strong hold in the United States. Congress followed up by adopting the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the National Environmental Policy Act in short order. We will debate the acts that we have to take following the crisis in the gulf, but today we are joined in unanimous thought that the ocean is important, and it warrants its recognition.

We might say it's a very salty week here in Washington. June is the National Oceans Month. This week is the Capitol Hill Oceans Week, where members of the ocean interests and science community come to Washington to petition their government. And yesterday was World Ocean Day. For over a month now, the Nation has been experiencing the worst marine disaster in history.

World Ocean Day was first recognized in 1992's Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, and has been celebrated unofficially ever since. The United Nations took official recognition of the day last year. I am proud to lead the effort here in Congress this year.

The resolution that we are adopting emphasizes we have an individual and collective duty, both nationally and internationally, to be ocean stewards. The resolution also petitions the President to set priorities using his Ocean Policy Task Force. I will continue in my role as representing the coast of California and one of the marine science leading geography areas in the world of marine science to bring to this floor issues important to the ocean. But right now I want to join my colleagues in celebrating that we all agree that it's important to recognize the oceans.

I appreciate the support for this bill on both sides of the aisle.

I would just like to address that although the resolved clause is very simple, it recognizes for the first time that Congress recognizes for the first time that we ought to recognize a day when the whole world is trying to recognize the ocean. I mean, it does cover two- thirds of our planet, and it is very important to the ecosystem and the health and well-being of mankind to have a healthy ocean.

And that's, you know, in a way, as the minority speaker said, that's not a big deal when there's a huge crisis going on, but it's the first time Congress has recognized the ocean in that sense. So it is important as a first step. I think what's more important and answers some of the questions that you raise, not just the questions of cleanup in the gulf but a much bigger question that a lot of us in Congress have been asking, is: Where is our national ocean policy?

We have had policy about clean water and how we want to govern that and set up a process for determining how we can ensure that water that we drink and that we disperse into the oceans is clean. We have national policy on air quality of the air we breathe, but we have no national policy on health of the oceans or even use of the oceans for fishing, for mining, for other kinds of purposes. And that is what's lacking.

We're governing in a crisis because we have an oil spill. And what I respect the committee in doing in their unanimous consent is looking at these ``whereases'' in this bill that really calls for these bigger policies so that we don't get into this problematic area, kind of going at things blindly. And I think that's what really the importance is here.

This bill coming at this time--it was introduced before the oil spill began but certainly has developed a lot of popularity because people want to say, Yes, we do recognize the oceans. And I think this is a first start for Congress to really look at a comprehensive package of issues.

We can go into the debates, going to get into a lot of things you heard today. But it's very important that we together, in a unanimous, bipartisan way, look at the fact that the ocean is a very critical resource to the well-being of the world, much less the well-being of the United States. And I appreciate the bipartisan support to bring this bill to the floor, and I ask that we have a unanimous vote on it.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Sister Julie Hyer, O.P., whose faith, benevolence and business savvy has served the County of Santa Cruz since 1985. As President and Chief Executive Officer she was instrumental in guiding Dominican Hospital for 22 years and Salud Para La Gente for the past two years, resulting in exceptional service and growth for both of these health care agencies.

At Dominican Hospital, Sister Julie sat at the helm of Santa Cruz County's largest health care facility when it implemented numerous programs such as their Infant Hearing Assessment program, Occupational Rehabilitation, and the ShareCare Health Plan for Older Adults, ensuring that patients are cared for through every stage of their lives. Other services, such as Dominican's Tattoo Removal Program which gives former gang members a chance to start a new phase of their lives, reflect Sister Julie's all-embracing approach to the health of our community.

Under Sister Julie's leadership, Salud Para La Gente, which translates in English as `Health For The People,' has grown into the county's leading provider of health care services to the low-income families of Santa Cruz County. Salud has won awards for its many programs, including well-child visits, adolescent well-care, monitoring of patients on persistent ACE inhibitors, breast and cervical cancer screening, appropriate use of asthma medications, and diabetes screening. Salud won many grants, including federal stimulus funding this year, used to create new space that will house pediatrics, general medical practices, dental and vision facilities, as well as hire two more physicians.

The laurels of her tenure are as numerous as they are invaluable. They are the realization of Sister Julie's faith in action and a testament to the power of earnest and solemn goodwill.

Madam Speaker, for all that she has done and all that she will undoubtedly continue to do, I extend my most sincere thanks and warmest wishes to Sister Julie as she goes to her next assignment.

Madam Chair, when we pass the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011, we take a historic step to restore equality in the ranks of our military by voting to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell.

Looking back in our history, social change occurred because of leadership. President Obama, our military leaders and gay Americans have shown leadership to overturn this discriminatory policy. Comparable to the leadership shown by President Truman in 1948 when he issued Executive Order 9981 that ordered the integration of the armed forces, we can be proud that the civil rights of all Americans who want to serve in our All Volunteer Forces is preserved. During its 17 year history, DADT has discharged far too many highly qualified and trained Arab linguists, doctors and mission critical specialists in every field and in every service who simply wanted to serve their country. For the last 17 years I been a Member of Congress who has fought to overturn this policy that has prohibited openly gay men and women from serving in the military.

Madam Chair, as we move forward in the legislative process, you may be assured of my continued strong support for repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell.

Ladies and gentlemen, the oil spill isn't the only mess in town. The mess was first started by the past administration, which takes great glee in cutting taxes for the very rich in this country and then leaving behind a huge deficit.

Remember, when Clinton left office, we had a surplus. When it came to war, we didn't have the money to pay for it. Don't pay for it. Just put it on a credit card. When it came to bailing out the drug companies for giving prescription drugs, don't pay for it. Just put it on a credit card. When it came to bailing out Wall Street big banks, don't pay for it. Just charge it. The fact is the deficit is big today--in the billions. It went from zero to tens of billions, to hundreds of billions.

But guess what? We're back on the mend. Jobs are being created. People are going back to work. It's slow, but we're investing in America, and the work has just begun.