Ken Calvert

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost).

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber).

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Miller).

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Illinois.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson).

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from the great State of Alaska (Mr. Young).

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber).

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Zeldin).

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt), the ranking member on the Commerce, Justice, Science Subcommittee.

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of a bipartisan en bloc, which includes important changes to the bills that reflect Member priorities. I would also like to thank the full committee chairwoman and Chairman Visclosky for their willingness to work with Members on both sides of the aisle to accommodate as many amendments to the defense division as possible. It is vital to our work that we have input from members who know their districts best and who want to ensure their constituent interests are being reflected in the appropriations process. The defense portion of the bipartisan en bloc includes 55 amendments, and I thank the many Members who are included in this en bloc for input and insight. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in reluctant opposition to the defense appropriations division of H.R. 7617. However, first, I thank the full committee chairwoman, Nita Lowey, for her dedicated leadership and years of service to the Committee on Appropriations and to this institution. I also extend my deep gratitude to Chairman Visclosky, who has been a great partner on the committee and a friend these many years. You will both be very much missed, and I wish you all the happiness in your next chapter. I also thank our full committee ranking member, Kay Granger, for her leadership on this bill. She has been a tireless advocate for our men and women in uniform. Mr. Speaker, the bill before us today provides funding for many key programs consistent with the National Defense Strategy and is focused on great power competition with China and Russia. The bill makes critical investments in 5th generation combat aircraft, ships, and an additional Virginia-class submarine, while also providing the combatant commanders the resources necessary to carry out their missions. The bill also continues to invest in research and development of new technologies essential to maintaining U.S. military superiority. I am also pleased at the focus on providing for the health and welfare of our men and women in uniform. It reflects the longstanding concerns that so many of our members have had with defense health programs; sexual assault prevention, suicide prevention, and a long- awaited electronic health record. These are all examples of critical investments in this bill that I strongly support. That is why it is so unfortunate that important initiatives that have broad support are overshadowed by political issues. While this is a very strong bill, there are numerous provisions, like the prohibition on funding for the southwest border wall construction and limitations on DOD's general and special transfer authorities that will draw a veto threat from the administration. It is important that the bill becomes law as soon as possible. While I cannot support it in its current form, I am committed to working with the majority to produce a bill that can be signed by the President. The importance of getting a bill done on time cannot be overstated. According to a DOD comptroller, a continuing resolution wastes roughly $1.7 billion a month. $1.7 billion a month wasted. This year, a CR would halt many of the modernization priorities that are vital to maintaining our military superiority over near-peer threats, such as China and Russia. This is no way to run the most sophisticated and professional fighting force in the world. There are currently over 200,000 U.S. servicemembers deployed around the world, ensuring that threats never meet our shores. They do their job every day; there is no allowance for pause or break. They do what we ask, and it is time for Congress to do what is necessary and required in the U.S. Constitution and provide for the common defense of our Nation in a timely and consistent manner. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I thank the staff, both minority and majority staff, for their hard work during some very challenging times.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I have no objection to this en bloc amendment. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Balderson).

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an outstanding individual, Bruce Nestande, who passed away at the age of 82 on July 9, 2020. Bruce was a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, an honorable veteran and an esteemed community leader. He will be deeply missed. Bruce was born and raised in Minnesota and as a child developed a love of baseball. A gifted athlete, Bruce nearly turned his hobby into a career when he was drafted to the Kansas City Athletics. He decided not to sign with the team and instead enrolled himself in the Reserve Officers' Training Program at the University of Minnesota. Bruce graduated with a degree in economics and following graduation continued his studies in Quantico, VA at the U.S. Marine Corps Officer Candidates School. After his time in Quantico, Bruce was deployed to Southeast Asia and upon return was stationed at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, CA. This sparked Bruce's love for California, the state that would be his home for the next 50 years. After his service in the military, Bruce began to work in politics. He served as a special assistant to Governor Ronald Reagan and later went on to run for elected office. Bruce was elected and served in the California State Assembly from 1974 to 1980, where he championed a diverse set of issues from land use to public safety. In 1980, Bruce was elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors where he was a leader on projects that led to the construction of Orange County's toll roads and the maintenance of Riverside County's Prado Dam. Politics was Bruce's greatest hobby and political discussions ran through the Nestande household constantly. His children were well versed in policy issues from a young age and two even went on to follow his footsteps into politics. As a political leader in California, Bruce garnered respect across both sides of the aisle, willing to come together with Democrats to find common ground whenever possible. Even those in Sacramento he consistently sparred with had an unwavering respect for Bruce. I had the pleasure of knowing Bruce through his service to Southern California and can personally attest to his numerous achievements and the countless lives he touched. He was a great American, a true patriot, an esteemed leader, and a dedicated husband, father, and friend. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his wife, Pamela, to their children, Brian, Gabrielle, and Francesca, his siblings Jim and Linda, his grandchildren, and the rest of his family and friends. Bruce was preceded in death by his son Barry, and I find comfort in knowing the two of them have been reunited. Although Bruce may no longer be with us, he will continue to have a lasting impact on the lives of his family and community.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a hero and true American patriot, United States Air Force First Lieutenant David John Schmitz. Today we ask that the House of Representatives honor and remember this incredible young man who died in service to our country. 1st Lt. Schmitz was born in Santa Barbara, California on February 17, 1988 to Brian and Sherrie Schmitz. At the age of only 17, 1st Lt. Schmitz earned his private pilot's license marking the start to his career in aviation. He attended San Diego State University where he enrolled in the University's Air Force ROTC program in hopes of becoming an Air Force pilot. His success in the program was evident and before completing his degree he enlisted in the United States Air Force. His first duty station was as a loadmaster and instructor on a C-17 cargo plane where he participated in critical missions, such as delivering supplies to troops on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq. It was during his time as a loadmaster that he met the love of his life and his future wife, Valerie Rudolph. With Valerie living in New Mexico and David stationed in Tacoma, Washington, the two began their relationship, which they navigated through long-distance and two deployments. They were married in 2013. 1st Lt. Schmitz completed his undergraduate degree through Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University, keeping up his studies even while deployed. Once he completed his degree, 1st Lt. Schmitz earned a slot as a fighter pilot and was commissioned through Officer Training School. He completed his undergraduate pilot training with high honors and earned numerous accolades. His great success led him to be selected to fly F-16 aircraft at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, South Carolina. On June 30, 2020, 1st Lt. Schmitz was tragically killed when his F-16 crashed during a training mission. He is survived by his wife Valerie, their dog Toby, his parents Brian and Sherrie Schmitz, sister Laura Schmitz (Issac Stewart), and his grandmother Louise Schmitz, along with numerous relatives and friends. As we look at the incredibly rich military history of our country we realize that this history is comprised of men and women, just like 1st Lt. Schmitz, who bravely fought for the ideals of freedom and democracy. Each story is unique and humbling for those of us who, far from the dangers they have faced, live our lives in relative comfort and ease. The day the Schmitz family learned of their husband, son, and brother's death was probably the hardest day they have ever faced, and our thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences go out to them. His sacrifice is forever etched in our nation's great history of freedom triumphing over oppression. 1st Lt. Schmitz's family has given a part of themselves in the loss of their loved one and we hope they know that the goodness he brought to this world and the sacrifice he has made will never be forgotten.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an outstanding individual, General William Lyon, who passed away at the age of 97 on May 22, 2020. ``The General,'' as his friends knew him, was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, a decorated military veteran, a dedicated philanthropist, and an esteemed community leader in Southern California. He will be deeply missed. William Lyon was born March 9, 1923, in Los Angeles, California. Throughout the 1940s Lyon studied business at the University of Southern California and attended the Dallas Aviation School and Air College. While there, he trained military pilots as a civilian instructor before joining the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943. During World War II he served as a pilot in Europe, the Pacific, and North Africa and after the war he joined the Air Force Reserve in 1946. During the early 1950s, he returned to active duty and flew 75 combat missions throughout the Korean War. In 1975, Lyon was appointed Chief of the Air Force Reserve by President Ford, a title he held until he retired from the military in 1979. Throughout his years of service, Lyon received numerous awards and decorations including the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with three oak clusters, and the Presidential Unit Citation. In addition to his military accolades, Lyon was best known for his successful career in home building, real estate, and commercial aviation. He began his business as a modest effort to provide homes for military personnel returning from service and others across California. His efforts eventually evolved into William Lyon Homes, Inc. which grew into one of the nation's largest homebuilders responsible for constructing more than 100,000 homes across the western United States. Throughout his life, Lyon remained an active pilot and often flew his own jet and functional World War II-era planes. In 2008, he flew a vintage B-17 Flying Fortress to Washington D.C. to participate in a memorial ceremony. A proud Trojan, Lyon's undergraduate degree was only the beginning of his involvement with USC. In 1986, he was elected to the university's Board of Trustees and remained a longtime advocate and supporter of USC's research and programs throughout his life. An active philanthropist and community leader, Lyons donated to organizations such as the Orangewood Children's Foundation and the Segerstrom Center for the Arts where he served for 30 years as a director of the board and formerly as chairman. Additionally, he was a chairman of the Boy Scouts of America, the Orange County Council, and served as the board chairman of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society of the United Way. He founded the Lyon Air Museum, located next to John Wayne Airport which exhibits authentic aircraft, vehicles, and memorabilia from the World War II era. I had the pleasure of knowing the General through his service to Southern California and can personally attest to his numerous achievements and the countless lives he touched. He was a great American, a true patriot, an esteemed leader, and a dedicated husband, father, and friend. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his wife of 48 years, Willa Dean, to their children, Susan, Christine, Marcia, and Bill, their grandchildren, and the rest of his family and friends. Although the General may no longer be with us, he will continue to have a lasting impact on the lives of his family and community.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an outstanding individual, Bob Stockton, who passed away at the age of 66 on May 13, 2020. Bob was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and one of Riverside County's most dedicated public servants. He will be deeply missed. Bob was a southern California native, born in San Diego on December 20, 1953, the son of Robert and Beverly Stockton. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Engineering from California Polytechnic University, Pomona in 1978. Bob married the love of his life, Kelli Tyson, 16 years ago and between the two of them they have five wonderful children and four grandchildren. Kelli and Bob loved to travel, and Hawaii was at the top of their list. Some of their greatest adventures while traveling include riding a portion of the Tour de France route in 2004 and being baptized in the Jordan River in Israel by friend and pastor, Matt Brown in 2015. To merely say Bob was a tireless advocate for Riverside County would not do him justice. He served on more organizations that I can name here, but they include: the Monday Morning Group; the Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce; Leadership Riverside; California Baptist University; Path of Life Ministries; the American Heart Association; the East Hills Chamber; and Western Municipal Water District. He also was a leader of his son's Boy Scout troop and ``The Prop Guy'' for his daughter's dance studio. He managed to do all of this while serving as the Vice President and Principal-in-Charge at Rick Engineering Company. He was, as Rusty Bailey, Bob's friend and the current Mayor of Riverside would say, a ``true saint of Riverside.'' Bob's service to the organizations in our community is matched only by his dedication to the individuals within them. He lived his life motto of ``Work Hard, Play Hard, Pray Hard'' each and every day. Bob was passionate about training and coaching athletes and helping his friends and family achieve any of their goals. He coached the Woodcrest Christian Mountain Bike Team and helped train anyone who asked in preparation for Ironman challenges, triathlons, half-marathons, and Catalina SOK runs, to name only a few competitions he loved. When Bob wasn't racing himself, he could be found cheering on the sidelines for anyone striving to reach their goals. I had the pleasure of knowing Bob through his service to Riverside County and can personally attest to the countless lives he touched. He was a great American, an esteemed leader, a respected mentor and a dedicated husband, father, and friend. I extend my heartfelt condolences to Kelli, to their children, Nathan, Heather, Adam, Travis, and Emily, their grandchildren Rages, Winter, Harley, and Easton, and the rest of Bob's family and friends. Although he may no longer be with us, he will continue to have a lasting impact on the lives of his family and community.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an individual, Reverend Louis P. Sheldon, who passed away at the age of 85 on May 29, 2020 in Orange County, California. Born in Washington, D.C. in 1934, Sheldon became a Christian in his teens and earned a B.S. in history from Michigan State University in 1957. Sheldon and his wife, Beverly, married on August 24, 1957 and had four children. In 1960, Sheldon was ordained a Presbyterian minister. He would go on to serve as a pastor for churches in North Dakota and California. After spending 52 years in the Presbyterian church, Sheldon left in 2012 and was ordained as an Anglican priest. Throughout his life Sheldon was a grassroots religious organizer and active advocate on many social and religious liberty issues in Washington, D.C. On many issues, Sheldon built coalitions encompassing hundreds, if not thousands, of churches across the nation. He was also a vocal proponent of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas during his nomination process, organizing the support of many churches and religious leaders. I had the pleasure of knowing Sheldon throughout my time serving in Congress. He was a tremendously patriotic man of faith. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Sheldon family and to all those who knew Rev. Sheldon.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an outstanding individual, John Prentice, who passed away at the age of 66 on April 30, 2020. John was a loving husband, a dedicated community member, and a dear friend of mine. He will be deeply missed. John was born on December 2, 1953, the son of Rita and George Prentice. John and I grew up together in Corona, California and had an incredible friendship that spanned from kindergarten to today. After graduating at the top of his class from Corona High School, John attended Cal Poly Pomona and earned a Bachelor of Science degree which led him to become a Certified Public Accountant. In 1980, John married the love of his life Melody Cissna, a wonderful woman who I have the pleasure of also calling a friend. Together they shared almost forty years of marriage filled with exciting travels, and lots of skiing, boating, and golfing. John and Melody took on their adventures together and surrounded themselves with good friends . John was an active CPA for more than 40 years, joining Eadie & Payne, LLP as a staff accountant in 1976. He worked his way up to becoming the firm's managing partner in 2000 and served in that role until he retired in 2017. John served as my accountant for many years, and I can personally attest to the many lives he touched throughout his career where he was known for his humor, warmth, intelligence, and optimistic outlook. John was an active member of the Rotary Club of San Bernardino and Inland Action, organizations which he graced with his time, leadership skills, and wit. He made lifelong friendships through his associations in professional accounting, agricultural, and construction trade groups. John was incredibly dedicated to his colleagues, clients, friends, and family. John is survived by his wife Melody, mother Rita, and his brothers Dan, Joe, and Jim Prentice. He is fondly remembered by his cousins, nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends for his generosity and kind spirit. I had the pleasure of knowing John both personally and professionally throughout most of my life. He was a wonderful friend, a talented professional and a passionate advocate for our region. He was a great American and I extend my heartfelt condolences to my dear friend Melody and to all those who knew John. Although he may no longer be with us, he will continue to have a lasting impact on the lives of his family and community.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the HEROES Act. With $3 trillion in spending, there are plenty of giveaways for liberal priorities, such as handouts for illegal immigrants and failed pension systems, yet there is no funding for the defense industrial base. Today, as we debate these measures, adversaries around the world are testing our ability to defend ourselves as we battle this virus and the economic impact. But instead of shoring up our defense industrial base, which is comprised of businesses in every one of our districts, the majority ignores the clear and present danger of those who wish to exploit this crisis. China continues to secure its vision of regional dominance. Rather than spending billions of dollars to keep people dependent on the government, why not put them to work building more Virginia-class submarines, Joint Strike Fighters, amphibious combat vehicles, expeditionary sea bases, MQ-9 Reapers, satellites. Let's accelerate the next generation of weapons systems, including the Columbia-class submarines, the new frigate, the B-21 Long-Range Stealth Bomber, the Army's Future Vertical Lift program. The defense industrial base is comprised of hundreds of thousands of companies, from the primes to the 10-person shops making nuts and bolts. It is the small innovator that disrupts the system and provides leap-ahead technology. It is a critical industry that is completely ignored in the bill. I am opposed to the bill for many reasons. It is a roadmap to an even more authoritative Federal Government, a first step toward a socialist system. But today I stand for the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and the defense community that supports them. As the beacon of freedom and democracy in the world, we must send a message that will not allow for bad actors to take advantage, and we will continue to be the world's superpower through our ability to project force to any corner of the world. This bill is a retreat from our values and our place in the world. Americans don't want unlimited handouts and dependence; they want to work, innovate, and succeed. I urge a ``no'' vote.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to and congratulate Director Brett R. Barbre on his retirement from the Municipal Water District of Orange County's (MWDOC) Board of Directors after nearly 20 years of valued service. Director Barbre has been a valued member of MWDOC since he was elected to the Board in November 2000. He serves as the Director of Division I which includes the cities of Brea, Buena Park, La Habra, La Palma, Placentia, and Yorba Linda. In this role, Director Barbre has dedicated his career to ensuring there is an adequate water supply for Orange County residents and businesses. He has helped MWDOC secure millions of dollars in local, state, and federal funds to build projects to increase water reliability for his region. He was a driving force behind the construction of a desalination plant in Dana Point, and he has played an active role in finding other viable desalination sites in Huntington Beach and throughout our southern counties. In 2009, Director Barbre was appointed to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California's (MWD) Board of Directors. MWD delivers water to approximately 20 million residents and serves the largest population of any water district worldwide. He took on his role at MWD with enthusiasm and was recognized both in California and Washington, D.C., as a tireless advocate for our region. His vision to modernize our water supply systems has benefitted all of Southern California. Director Barbre is an Orange County native, having left only to attend George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon. After graduation he moved back to Orange County and has been a Yorba Linda resident since 1969. He and his wife, Jean, have two daughters, Kimberly and Kathryn, two grandsons and one granddaughter. The entire Southern California region thanks Brett for his many years of service, and I wish him all the best in his next chapter.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an outstanding individual and my dear friend, Lucie Yvonne Gikovich, who lost her hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 70 on March 11, 2020. Lucie was a lover of life, a caring friend and she will be deeply missed. In all Lucie did, every role she played, and every job title she held, she had a lasting impact on those around her. She began her career as an integral part of Jerry Brown's team, both throughout his gubernatorial campaign and during his first eight years in the California Governor's office. She worked behind the scenes, often running the day-to-day operations of the office as Brown's executive assistant. She went on to also serve as his scheduler, as a cabinet secretary, and as the campaign press secretary during his run for the U.S. Senate. Lucie received her undergraduate degree from Immaculate Heart College and pursued a graduate degree from the University of San Francisco before joining Brown's campaign in 1974. After serving in the Governor's office, Lucie began a successful career in public affairs and lobbying. She was an integral player in the organization of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and subsequently managed public affairs for Major League Baseball. Later, she joined the Crane Group and went on to have a successful career in government relations in both Sacramento and Washington D.C. Beyond her long list of career accolades, Lucie will be remembered for love of her Croatian heritage. Lucie's father immigrated to the United States from Croatia and her mother was also of Croatian descent and to honor that legacy she helped to establish the Croatian Congressional Caucus. She will also be remembered as a fighter, as prior to her battle with pancreatic cancer, Lucie beat breast cancer twice. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Gikovich family, and although Lucie may be gone, the impact she made on her community will be long lasting.