Ken Calvert

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to a hero from my congressional district, U.S. Marine Corps Private First Class (Pfc) Bryan Baltierra. Throughout the history of our republic we have asked young men and women to voluntarily step forward to guard and protect the freedoms we hold so dear. Pfc. Baltierra of Corona, California, took that step forward and assumed the duties, responsibilities, and sacrifices that are required of all Americans who join the finest military in history. Today I ask that the House of Representatives honor and remember this incredible young man who died in service to our country. Pfc. Baltierra was born September 18, 2001, to Carlos and Evelyn Baltierra. As a child, he aspired to serve his country by joining the military and after graduating from Centennial High School, Bryan achieved his dream. On July 30, 2019, at the age of only 17, he was sworn into the U.S. Marine Corps. After graduating from basic training, Bryan was stationed at Camp Pendleton where he remained close to his family and was able to visit with them. Bryan is described as someone who radiated positivity, which you can clearly see from his bright smile. He shared with his parents and sisters how he loved the brotherhood that accompanied being a Marine and how he also came to enjoy the rigorous training and fitness that was required of him. On July 30, 2020, exactly one year after he was sworn into the Marine Corps, Pfc. Baltierra boarded an amphibious assault vehicle for a routine exercise in training for his upcoming September deployment. The vehicle sank off the coast of San Clemente Island, resulting in the death of Pfc. Baltierra, seven other marines, and a sailor. As we look at the rich history of our country, we realize that this history is comprised of men and women, just like Pfc. Baltierra, who so bravely chose a life of military service. Each story is unique and humbling for those of us who, far from the dangers they will be called to face, live our lives in relative comfort and ease. Pfc. Baltierra is survived by his father, Carlos, mother, Evelyn, and three sisters, Natalie, Emily, and Sara. While we send our deepest sympathies to his family, there are no words that can express or alleviate the grief of losing a son and brother. Pfc. Baltierra's parents and sisters have given a part of themselves in the loss of Bryan. and I hope they know that their son and brother, the goodness he brought to this world and the sacrifice he has made, will always be remembered.

Mr. CALVERT

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

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers. I support the en bloc amendment, and I urge a ``yes'' vote. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa).

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

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, serving in the United States military is an honor, and we should be thanking the thousands of young people who choose to join the military to defend this great Nation. The assertion that joining the military is a bad thing for low-income youth or any young person, is fundamentally flawed. It is insulting to the men and women who currently serve and those who served before them. The military recruits the best and the brightest. They should not be prohibited from recruiting the best and the brightest from lower, socioeconomic classes or in the activities in which young people participate, such as esports. In fact, studies show that when compared to their peers, military veterans do better across-the-board on education attainment, income, and quality of life. It is important to remember the quotation, ``This Nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.'' The world is more dangerous now than it has ever been. It is because of the brave men and women in our military that our freedoms and security are assured. I respect each branch of our military and it is the moral responsibility of every Member of this body to show these men and women the respect and the appreciation they deserve. Please join me in doing just that and voting ``no'' on this amendment. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Smith).

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Wright).

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Newhouse). The gentleman is from the land of hops.

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

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 the Republican en bloc, which includes important changes to the bill that would enable us to finish our work and deliver to the President a bill that he could sign, including removing language prohibiting the funding of the border wall. While I certainly agree with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle that wall funding should not come from the DOD, it is unfortunate that the majority continues to ignore the problem along our southern border and funds no wall construction or Border Patrol agents in their FY 2021 Homeland Security appropriations bill. In doing so, they are forcing the administration to deal with the security of our borders through any means possible, including using DOD funds to build the wall. Finally, I will simply say that all Members should have an opportunity to have their voice heard on annual appropriation bills on the House floor. While I acknowledge the difficulty of doing our work safely during the pandemic, and I thank the chairwoman for the bipartisan en bloc, which includes many of our minority's priorities, nothing should stifle our Members from having the opportunity to offer debate and have a vote on an amendment germane to the bill. Therefore, I urge adoption of the Republican en bloc, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt), who is the ranking member of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Tiffany).

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Hartzler).

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 yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in opposition to the Democratic en bloc amendment. Mr. Speaker, while there may certainly be valid adjustments reflecting important priorities, there are also political statements that have no place in the Defense appropriations bill, such as language insinuating that our military is being used in a way that violates the First Amendment. Make no mistake, the men and women of the United States military protect and defend the First Amendment along with the entire Constitution to which they swore an oath. It is beneath the institution to call their loyalty into question. As such, I urge rejection of this en bloc. Mr. Speaker, if the gentlewoman has no further speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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.