Jim Costa

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman. This amendment would try to respond to those thousands of households that have lost their source of drinking water. This amendment would require the Department of Defense to provide a report to Congress on the well drilling capabilities of military units and the feasibility of rotating their training locations so that they can do their training in areas where the devastating droughts have impacted to the greatest degree, primarily in western States. I think this is a commonsense amendment. I ask that it be adopted.

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman for yielding me the time in today's debate. Mr. Chairman, as part of the Department of Defense's Innovative Readiness Training, a mission that provides military training and resources and supports local communities throughout the country, there are four National Guard teams that are currently practicing the fine art of well drilling in the United States prior to deploying abroad. Clearly, we know in parts of the Middle East having the water resources available to support our troops is absolutely essential. My amendment has the potential to help areas, though, in our country today as part of this training program. Regions throughout the country have experienced devastating droughts. Those in the area that I represent, the San Joaquin Valley of California, have experienced a loss of drinking water supplies as a result of these serious drought conditions they have had to face. In California alone, there have literally been thousands and thousands and thousands of households that have been without access to drinking water.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service and career of Gunny Sergeant George A. Criswell as he retires from the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC). Gunny Sergeant Criswell served in the USMC for 20 years and deserves to be commended for his outstanding service and dedication to our country. Gunny Sergeant Criswell was born in York, Pennsylvania on March 18, 1972. From a young age he embodied the traits of a Marine; he is selfless, courageous, intelligent, loyal, and enthusiastic. It is no coincidence that Gunny Sergeant Criswell would dedicate his life to serving our country and become a heroic leader to our nation. During his most recent overseas deployment from November 10, 2011 through October 31, 2012, he served as the Staff Non-Commissioned- Officer-in Charge of CJ3 Borders Division, Combat Joint Task Force and Regional Command--East. While he was deployed, Gunny Sergeant Criswell was in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom XIII in Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan as well as other locations throughout Afghanistan. The mission of Operation Enduring Freedom XIII was to facilitate coordination of near-border combat operations and emergency de- escalation of fires between Coalition Forces, Afghan National Security Forces, and the Pakistani Military. While stationed in the Bagram Airfield, Gunny Sergeant Criswell witnessed a situation in which 2000 local Afghans attempted to breech an entry control point. When Sergeant Gunny Criswell returned to the United States, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his valiant service where he was subject to over 45 indirect fire attacks. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in honoring the career and noble service of Gunny Sergeant George A. Criswell. It is with great pride that we thank him for his genuine selflessness and service to our country.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Dr. Joseph Castro, the president of Fresno State University. Dr. Castro is the president of one of the finest universities in the Western United States. It also happens to be my alma mater. Since Dr. Castro has been president, it has been clear that he wants to make a positive difference in the lives of all students, especially of those who are from California's San Joaquin Valley. Over 60 percent of the students are the first in their families to attend a university, and it has over 25,000 students today. This is one of the many reasons the Consul General of Mexico honored Dr. Castro with the Ohtli Award, which is the highest award given to exceptional leaders who improve the lives of the Hispanic community abroad. Dr. Castro is truly deserving of this award. He understands the immigrant communities throughout the valley and throughout the region and my home, which we are also proud to represent. It is a special place. It is where he was from originally, from California, and he is the first Hispanic president to be appointed at Fresno State. Please join me in honoring Dr. Joseph Castro and the entire Fresno State faculty and staff for all they do for the students to ensure that they have access to a high quality, affordable college education, because they are the future of America.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize April as National Donate Life Month. As the co-chair of the Congressional Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Caucus, I believe it is important to help people understand that, while organ and tissue donation is serious, just like any other medical or surgical procedure, there are many misconceptions and myths surrounding the donor process, and it is important that we educate the public about them. Technology today allows us to do amazing things in the donation of organs and tissues, and new drugs have advanced the opportunity to ensure that these organs, these tissues, are not rejected. My hope today, as a member of the caucus, is to encourage Americans to get educated and understand the dire need for tissue and organ donations. This is an opportunity to save lives. Sadly, there are over 120,000 men, women, and children who are on waiting lists for lifesaving organ donations around the country. For these patients, an organ donation simply is a matter of life and death. I would like to commend the organizations that raise awareness and that are on the front lines about these important issues every single day throughout our country. I would like to thank the National Kidney Foundation and the American Liver Foundation for their efforts to raise awareness, support patients, and support funding for advancements in this field. They are always trying to advance the opportunities for lifesaving organs that will make a difference in our communities throughout the Nation.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, on a separate matter, I rise today to recognize Denim Day, which is observed in April throughout the world as being Sexual Assault Awareness Month. My staff today is wearing denim, joining other organizations throughout the district and throughout the Nation to raise the awareness about sexual violence prevention. I would like to commend the Valley Crisis Center in Merced, the Madera Community Action Partnership, and the Marjaree Mason Center in Fresno, and the San Joaquin Valley organizations for all that they do to support and serve the victims of sexual assault. Today, on Denim Day, and every day we stand with the victims and survivors, their families, and their friends to make everyone aware and to prevent the spread of sexual violence.

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 101st anniversary of the Armenian genocide and honor the lives of 1.5 million Armenians who were killed between 1915 and 1923 by the Ottoman Empire. The Republic of Turkey, sadly, continues to try to silence the voices of the survivors and their descendants around the world, but we will never forget nor will we be intimidated into silence. Several years ago I told the foreign minister of Turkey, who is now the President, that Turkey must recognize the genocide and put this chapter of history to rest. It is extremely frustrating that Turkey continues to ignore what really happened, but in addition to that, it is very disappointing and unacceptable that President Obama failed once again to call the murder of 1.5 million Armenians a genocide--because that is what it was. Recognizing the Armenian genocide is not something to be debated. The Europe Parliament has gone on record of recognizing the genocide, and last year Pope Francis spoke of the tragedy that took place, the Armenian genocide. Scholars and historians acknowledge that the systematic killings and deportations that took place constituted a genocide. I, however, simply do not have to rely on the word of historians. Growing up in the San Joaquin Valley in the Fresno area, I heard stories from my friends and neighbors, the Kezerians, the Abrahamians, and the Koligians, whose families experienced the horrors at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. As we reflect on this day, it is equally fitting to honor the hundreds of thousands of Armenian men and women who bravely began new lives in the United States after witnessing unspeakable tragedies to their families and in their villages. Survivors and their descendants, many of whom settled in California, have become bright examples of what it means to live the American Dream in their own diaspora. I would like to use this opportunity to tell you of an experience last Friday in Fresno. I had the distinct honor of participating in a wreath-laying event with leaders of the Armenian community and the Armenian National Committee of America, its national chairman, Raffi Hamparian. I want to take this opportunity to honor someone who brought a sense of justice to those who perished during that time. We want to recognize a true Armenian hero, Soghomon Tehlirian. As a part of Operation Nemesis, planned by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Soghomon Tehlirian assassinated Talaat Pasha, who was the last prime minister of the Ottoman Empire and the orchestrator of the Armenian genocide. This was an act of justice served on behalf of the Armenian people. Tehlirian was acquitted of the charges by a jury in Germany in the 1920s and later moved to Serbia, and then to San Francisco, California. He died in 1960 and is buried at the Ararat Massis Armenian Cemetery in Fresno, California, which then was the only Armenian cemetery in the country. I hope my colleagues will join me and the Armenians throughout the Nation and throughout the world in honoring Mr. Tehlirian and to also pay tribute to the 1.5 million lives lost in the genocide--the first genocide in the 20th century--as well as their descendants who live today, for we must never ever forget the history. As Santayana once said: Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. Denim Day

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on the need to fix California's broken water system, a broken water system that no longer can provide for the needs of the State of California, designed years ago for a population of 20 million and the agriculture that we had in the sixties. Today we have 41 million people. By the year 2030, it is estimated California will have 50 million people. The water system we have today cannot sustain a growing State. As solutions are offered, I believe amending the Endangered Species Act to more effectively protect species while minimizing the harm to California communities should be a part of this conversation. The ESA has an important role in ensuring species protection, but it is clear that there are major challenges with its implementation. In California, one of those challenges is the Act's implementation limits on the ability to move water from north to south when we have an excess of water in the system, as we have had over the last 5 months. Simply put, California faced 4 record dry years, which was noted throughout the country and throughout the world; and, this year, we had El Nino conditions that gave us average and above average rain and snow in northern California. Now, I don't believe anybody thought that 1 year of good rainfall would completely dig us out of the devastating circumstances that California farmers, farmworkers, and farm communities have faced; but, last December, I was hopeful because the rain and snow conditions that were occurring, coupled with the weather forecasting, indicated that there was a high likelihood that there would be enough water in the system to help recover--but not end--the devastating drought conditions that the San Joaquin Valley faced as well as other parts of California. However, as a result of what I believe are flawed biological opinions that govern the operations of the water projects that move water from north to south, we failed to pump over 244,000 acre-feet of water that would have been very helpful today in areas that were most impacted by the drought conditions and still are. Some farmers, this year, are receiving only 5 percent of their total allocation. It is made worse because, over the last 2 years, they received a zero water allocation because of these conditions that I am stating. To put it in perspective, this year, 7 million acre-feet of water flowed through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay-Delta system out to the ocean, and only 963,000 acre-feet were pumped for human and agricultural use. Seven million acre-feet went through the delta out to the ocean, and we pumped less than 1 million acre-feet for human and agricultural use. This is unconscionable in a State that has been ravaged by drought for the last 4 years. It also was avoidable. There is a host of technical reasons as to why this water flowed into the ocean, but the simple fact is that conservative decisionmaking, enabled by inflexible provisions in the biological opinions that were promulgated under the Endangered Species Act, led to this avoidable outcome. Therefore, it is time to reform the Endangered Species Act because it needs to be more flexible in order to provide adaptability to changing conditions. It is time to reform the Endangered Species Act because it must effectively recover species, which it doesn't do, and not simply maintain an unsustainable status quo like that in California, especially when you have a drought crisis. Finally, it is time to reform the Endangered Species Act because both people and our environment deserve better. I look forward to working with my colleagues to update the Endangered Species Act for today's conditions and not for those of the past.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 37th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act. The Republic of China (Taiwan) is not only our close economic and security partner but a friend with whom we share many principles and values. Signed into law in 1979, the Taiwan Relations Act established the legal basis for our bilateral relations with Taiwan. I am pleased to say the U.S.-Taiwan bilateral relationship has continued to expand and grow stronger over the past thirty-seven years. As President Ma Ying-jeou remarked during The American Chamber of Commerce 2016 Annual Hsieh Nien Fan Gala, this relationship has also reaped benefits for the peaceful state of the East Asia and Asia-Pacific regions: ``First, the development of Taiwan-U.S. relations and the trilateral interaction involving the U.S., Taiwan, and the mainland over the past eight years have led to the warmest relations in more than 60 years.'' In a recent trip to Taiwan, I had the opportunity to experience firsthand our shared values and our close economic ties. In 2015, Taiwan was the United States' 9th largest trading partner and the bilateral trade between the United States and Taiwan reached $67.4 billion. My home state of California has also benefited from the strong commercial partnership. For example, in 2014, California's export to Taiwan reached $7.46 billion, making Taiwan California's 5th largest export market in Asia and 7th largest export market in the world. Additionally, as we recently recognized the 70th Anniversary of the end of World War II, it is appropriate to remember Taiwan's important contributions to the alliance that defeated fascist militarism. The United States and Taiwan work closely and that partnership continued as the United States helped Taiwan to overcome challenges and thrive following the end of the fighting. As a friend of Taiwan, I look forward to continuing to promote policies that reaffirm our mutual commitment to democratic and economic development. I urge my colleagues to join me in commemorating the 37th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. Sebastian Lujan ``Ben'' Benavidez, a longtime Fresno civil rights leader, who passed away on April 4, 2016, at the age of 69. Mr. Benavidez will undoubtedly be remembered by the legacy he created through serving the community as a positive role model to all of those he encountered. Born on November 4, 1946 in Miami, Arizona, Mr. Benavidez was the son of Arizona copper miners. He moved to Fresno, California in 1962. He graduated from Washington Union High School, and continued on to attend Fresno City College. After college Ben worked for Parlier Unified School District. Mr. Benavidez is appreciated by many individuals throughout California, but he is especially treasured in the San Joaquin Valley, where he worked tirelessly to improve civil and economic rights for individuals throughout the region. Mr. Benavidez was a leader and spent decades advocating and working to improve the lives of immigrant families in the rural communities of the San Joaquin Valley and California. He became actively involved in the Mexican American Political Association (MAPA), serving as President for 13 years. As President of MAPA, Mr. Benavidez fought to expand opportunities in education, and led an effort to increase minority participation in local government. In the 1980s and early 1990s, he led boycotts and walkouts that helped more Latinos win city and school board positions. His efforts to expand opportunities for minorities in education decisions led him to take on Dinuba, and Kings Canyon Unified School districts in a battle to eliminate at-large elections, to ensure that school boards were reflective of the communities they served. Mr. Benavidez's unrelenting pursuit for social justice made him known to be fearless, and he demanded fairness. He fought for equality and improved educational opportunities for immigrant, migrant and minority children. He educated parents about their civil rights and their enormous political potential. Mr. Benavidez's contributions to his community, his philanthropic endeavors, and his work to expand small minority owned businesses led him to be honored by Parlier Unified School District with an elementary school named after him. In 2007, The Fresno Bee recognized Mr. Benavidez with the Latino Legends of the 20th Century Award, and in 2011, Mr. Benavidez was honored for his civil rights work, in advocating for minority civil and economic rights by the Greenlining Institute. Without question, Mr. Benavidez's integrity, honor and long-lasting involvement in the Central Valley made him a reputable man. He was well known, beloved, and shown enormous appreciation by anyone who had the pleasure of calling him a friend. Mr. Benavidez leaves behind his loving family, including his wife of 49 years, Gloria, their two sons and two daughters, their respective spouses, twelve grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It is my honor to join his family in celebrating the life of this amazing man, who will never be forgotten. Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to honor the life of Mr. Ben Benavidez. He will be remembered for his contributions and service to our country.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. John Yakligian for being named the 2016 Senior Farmer of the Year by the Madera Chamber of Commerce. John's outstanding contributions to the agriculture industry and the Madera community are truly deserving of this special honor. In 1955, John and his wife, Lois, moved to Madera County and began their journey of farming together. Over the last 62 years, they have farmed a variety of crops including: almonds, raisins, chickens, cotton, small grains, vegetable feed crops, and beans. Giving back has always been a priority for John. In addition to serving on numerous California Farm Bureau Federation committees and as the President of the Madera County Farm Bureau, John served for 15 years on the Madera Community Hospital Board. He has been a member of the Madera Rotary Club for 42 years and is a founder and active member of the Grace Community Church. John is also a veteran and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. In addition to farming, John volunteered for 35 years at a non-profit organization, Far East Broadcasting Company, before becoming employed as the organization's Executive Vice President and CEO. The organization broadcasts to two-thirds of the world's population in over 141 languages to over one hundred countries. John's family is very important to him. Lois and John have two children, Phillip and Jane, five grandchildren, and seven great grandsons. John and Lois have given back to their community in many ways, and it is fitting and appropriate to honor them for their accomplishments and efforts. Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to recognize John as the Senior Farmer of the Year presented by the Madera Chamber of Commerce. John's success is exemplary of the American Dream, and he serves as an inspiration for all of us.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to once again rise to address the water crises that are facing not just California, but our Nation and throughout the world. Today, global communities and business organizations have joined together, and the White House is holding a water summit to raise awareness of the 650 million people around the world who don't have access to safe drinking water, urging leaders to focus on ways in which we can increase access to safe, sanitary water. This is appropriate, but it is long overdue. On the Web site, waterday.us, it states: ``Water stress is the impact a lack of water has on a particular sector or population. Water stress affects nutrition, public health, environmental services, housing and urban growth, and national security.'' And national security is directly related to our ability to grow food to ensure that American consumers are independent and have sufficient nutrition for their daily consumption. Water, therefore, is a resource issue of the future not only for our Nation, but throughout the world. These impacts of not having a reliable and safe water supply are all too familiar for those of us who live in the San Joaquin Valley in California and my colleagues who represent that area. So while I believe it is fitting and appropriate that we recognize that there is a nationwide and worldwide issue regarding our water resources and how we manage them--with the planet having 7 billion people last year and by the middle of this century another 2 billion, or 9 billion people--we need to look at both short-term and long-term comprehensive solutions to our water needs not just throughout the world, but here in the United States, specifically, in California. So I find it extremely disappointing that California's San Joaquin Valley is not at the forefront of this discussion after 4 years of devastating drought. While I empathize with those in Flint, Michigan, and other areas of the country, like those of us in the San Joaquin Valley, we have been facing water shortages for 4 years; it is getting much worse; and there is less national attention being focused on our plight. In the valley, instead of lead poisoning due to the failure of all levels of government, as we have seen in Flint, Michigan, we are dealing with waters that have high nitrate levels in drinking water. In addition to that, in many places, we don't have access to water at all. The solutions are clear. We need to increase Federal funding for infrastructure to build resiliency during drought periods and reduce the impacts of water quality using all the water tools in our water toolbox. We need to increase coordination between local, State, and Federal agencies to reduce the impacts of communities impaired by water quality or a lack of access to water. Finally, we need to increase our focus on ensuring that regulations, where they are in place, achieve their intended purpose while minimizing negative impacts that they have with contradictory results. For instance, due to the decisions made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Bureau of Reclamation is required to operate pumps in California's water system under what I believe are scientifically flawed provisions, biological opinions, which have lost, as a result, hundreds of thousands of acre-feet of water. This year, if the Federal agencies had operated within the flexibility provided even in those flawed biological opinions, San Joaquin Valley communities could have been provided an additional 2- to 300,000 acre-feet of additional water. In addition to that, that would have benefited over 400,000 households. As a result of the drought and the inability to capture water that is flowing in the system, over 600,000 acres of prime productive agricultural land have gone unplanted, and we have seen families impacted. Families that literally do not have access to water have had to bottle in water. There is a very certain human toll--the impact--that is taking place to provide highly uncertain benefits for species. This is unacceptable, it is avoidable, and it is immoral. I urge the Federal agencies to take action to do experimental increases in pumping with increased detection and monitoring so we can find out if, in fact, delta smelt and salmon traveling through the delta are even being harmed by the exact pumping levels under discussion. So while I appreciate the comprehensive plan the administration is trying to implement to solve our Nation's water crisis, we need short- term solutions now so that farmers, farm workers, and farming communities in the San Joaquin Valley do not go without a water supply under the Federal project for a third year in a row. Additionally, we must do everything possible to get Federal legislation passed and signed into law that would not only deal with our short-term needs, but to deal with our long-term needs as well. We passed the House bill last year. We need to get Senator Feinstein's bill passed so we can go to conference because, if the Federal agencies don't act--and they have not been doing the job that I would like to see them do--then Congress must act.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements and contributions of my good friend Vivien Haig as she steps down from her position as director-general of the Transatlantic Policy Network. Over the years, Vivien has encouraged international cooperation through her work with the Transatlantic Policy Network (TPN), the Transatlantic Business Dialogue, the Atlantic Council, the Global Business Dialogue on Electronic Commerce, and the Hong Kong--Europe Business Cooperation Committee. Vivien has served as director-general of TPN since its founding in 1992. A natural communicator with experience in non-profit entrepreneurship, Vivien understood TPN's potential to strengthen the transatlantic partnership and worked diligently to turn TPN into a highly effective network with a reputation for getting things done. She focuses on bringing together business leaders, think tank contributors, and elected officials for constructive dialogue on policy issues important to both sides of the Atlantic. Another example of Vivien's leadership is the annual success of TPN's Transatlantic Week in Washington, DC. Each year, Transatlantic Week has been an unprecedented opportunity to engage in candid conversations with policy leaders at the highest level. Vivien played an invaluable role in convening a diverse group of people dedicated to the success of our transatlantic partnership. Participants appreciate the chance to dive into timely discussions with Members of Congress, Members of European Parliament, industry leaders, and prominent officials such as U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, former World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick, EU Ambassador to the U.S. David O'Sullivan, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman, and many more. Leaders around the world have commended Vivien for her capacity to build relationships based on trust and mutual understanding. Regardless if Vivien holds an official position or provides informal advice, anyone who has worked with Vivien knows they can rely on her quick wit, attention to detail, and practical approach to develop innovative ideas. It is no surprise the European American Business Council honored Vivien by naming her as the 2008 private sector recipient of the Atlantic Leadership Award. Her innate ability to bring people together will continue to reap benefits for the transatlantic relationship in years to come. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor and respect that I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Vivien Haig and her many contributions to the U.S.-European partnership. Most importantly, I want to personally thank Vivien for her friendship over the years. We would not be where we are today without your vision and leadership.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to be present for votes taken on the House floor on March 3, 2016, and March 14, 2016, as I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted `NO' on Roll Call Vote Number 106, `NO' on Roll Call Vote Number 107, `AYE' on Roll Call Vote Number 108, `YES' on Roll Call Vote Number 109, `NO' on Roll Call Vote Number 110, `AYE' on Roll Call Vote Number 111, `AYE' on Roll Call Vote Number 112, and `AYE' on Roll Call Vote Number 113.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 90th birthday of Ms. Mabelle M. Selland, a wonderful friend and loving community member. Mabelle Maasen Selland was born on March 7, 1926, in Chicago, Illinois, and lived there until the first grade when her family moved to Omaha, Nebraska. Mabelle graduated from Bensen High School in 1944, and later moved to California with her mother where she settled in Pasadena. Mabelle then moved to the Bay Area at the age of 19 to become a keypunch operator. Mabelle later came to Fresno at the invitation of friends to work as an operator for Pacific Gas and Electric and saved enough money to enroll at Fresno State College. It was at Fresno State where Mabelle met Harold ``Bud'' Selland. Mabelle and Bud fell in love and were married in 1951. They raised three children, Julie, Eric, and Bethany and were married for 55 years until Bud's passing in 2006. Mabelle was an accomplished young lady who always displayed a strong passion for preserving, and improving her community, and that passion has continued throughout her life. She has dedicated her entire life to involving herself in various community activities. She worked as a Social Worker for Fresno County from 1950-1955, served as the People to People president, and as chairwoman for the Fresno Moulmein, Burma Sister City, where she received two awards for outstanding service from the National Sister City Conference in Washington D.C. In 1972, Mabelle received her Master's Degree in Asian History from Fresno State, and continued her work in the community. From 1973 to 1979, Mabelle served as the Executive Director for the Fresno City and County Historical Society. She worked diligently to successfully enter Kearney Mansion on the National Register of Historic Places. She received a state Historic Preservation Grant to restore Kearney Mansion, and created seven ethnic history exhibits, restored costume collection and exhibited over 200 pieces. In 1973, Mabelle became an instrumental force behind starting a movement to save the Old Administration building on the campus of Fresno City College. Mabelle and her friend, Ephraim Smith, saved the building from the planned demolition. After 38 years from her initial suggestion that the community should save the landmark, the building was finally restored and re-opened in 2011. In the 1980's, Mabelle served as the Cultural Arts Manager for the City of Fresno Cultural Arts office, where she eventually retired from in 1994. After her retirement from the City of Fresno, Mabelle traveled the world with her family and friends and continued to serve on the County Historic Records and Landmarks Commission. She wrote about Southeast Asian history and coordinated performances and village festivals at the Southeast Asian Business Conference. Furthermore, Mabelle founded the Heritage Fresno, a historic preservation organization in 2003, and served on the County Tourism Committee in 2004. It goes without saying that Mabelle continues to be a force to be reckoned with, even at the young age of 90. Throughout the many roads she has traveled, we thank Mabelle for the many lives that she has touched along the way. It is for these reasons that we join Mabelle Selland's family and friends in wishing her a blessed 90th birthday. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating a woman who has dedicated her life to public service. Mabelle's many accomplishments within the community are a direct reflection of her strong dedication and perseverance. We wish her continued health and happiness in the years to come.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and recognize the service of Mr. Robert J. Hand's thirty year career dedicated to public service. Until his recent retirement, Mr. Hand served as the Executive Director for Resources for Independence, Central Valley (RICV) for the past ten years. RICV is a non- profit organization whose mission is to ``encourage people with disabilities to be in control of their lives and to live more independently through a diverse range of choices and opportunities.'' Bob dedicated his forty-year career to public service, and his efforts will continue to impact the community and be felt by all who have had the opportunity to work with him along the way. Bob has been very active in many organizations and has held countless leadership roles over the course of his career. Through his role with RICV, Bob aided in the establishment of Inspiration Park, California's first universally accessible public park. The eight-acre park features several basketball courts, a fully accessible playground, a sensory garden, fitness cluster, Dog Park, and so much more. While there are many parks in California that feature some disabled friendly features, Inspiration Park is the only one that serves these needs one hundred percent. Additionally, since the park's recent opening in late 2015, Bob and his team at RICV, along with their other partners, have committed to providing funding for the general development along with maintenance of the park. In addition to his time at RICV, Bob also served as the former Chairman of the Board of the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers, California State Rehabilitation Council, and the City of Fresno Disability Advisory Commission. He is also the founder and facilitator of the Central Valley Coalition for Human Services. Bob received his Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from California State University, Fresno and later returned as an adjunct instructor to teach leadership development for people suffering from disabilities. He has shared countless presentations in California, Kansas, South Carolina, and South Korea aimed to supplement the ``Leaders without Limits'' training manuals which he co-authored. While Bob's career has been filled with many personal accomplishments, it is without a doubt that his life's goal was not to improve upon his own successes, but rather to improve the lives of others. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating a man who has dedicated his entire career to public service. Bob's many accomplishments within the community are a direct reflection of his strong dedication and perseverance. Through these accomplishments, Bob has improved the lives of many, and even upon his retirement, will undeniably continue to do so for many years to come.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the historic Rotary Club of Fresno, California--an institution that has brought families and communities together since its establishment. The Rotary Club of Fresno was first organized as provisional Rotary Club on December 13, 1915, and three months later, a group of 23 Fresno business leaders chartered the organization on March 1, 1916. At the time, the Fresno Rotary Club was the first rotary club in Central California, the ninth in the State of California and the 203rd club in the world. The Fresno club held its first meeting in Downtown Fresno in the Hotel Fresno Ballroom, and held its first District Conference in Rotary by 1916. In 1919, the club implemented their first community project, firmly establishing their organization in Fresno by the act of planting 1,000 olive trees along Golden State Highway, otherwise known as State Highway 99. Since its establishment, the Fresno Rotary Club has supported hundreds of community projects and organizations in the local community, including: the water tower in downtown Fresno, building the 3,500 seat Rotary Amphitheater at Woodward Park, contributing to the construction of Playland at Roeding Park, providing mentorship programs through the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, donating to the Salvation Army, Schools, and our local hospitals. The Rotary Club of Fresno has been dedicated to numerous causes that have contributed over $3.7 million throughout its existence to many local and international projects which support local issues and international humanitarian efforts. The club's Wheelchair project has delivered over 4,200 wheelchairs to Central American and African nations since 2003. Project Nino has provided medical services and treatment to children over the last 30 years in the small village of Santiago de Tautla, Mexico, and has treated over 100,000 patients since 1985. The ``WAPI'' Water Purification project has delivered countless solar cookers and water treatment devices throughout the world. The Rotary Club of Fresno has also contributed over $1.2 million to the Rotary International Foundation in support of its worldwide humanitarian efforts to eradicate polio, and improve people's lives. Members of the Fresno Rotary continue to dedicate themselves to community development and involvement. Whether it's organizing a city wide Boy Scout Council, or holding an annual Christmas party at the senior citizens home, or providing scholarships for students to pay for college. The Fresno Rotary has made a strong impact in our community, and has enriched the quality of life for many residents throughout the Central Valley. Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the Rotary Club of Fresno as they celebrate its 100th anniversary and prepare to continue to provide outstanding leadership through the Central Valley, the State of California, and our Nation.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of Dr. Dana Louise Raphael, who passed away on February 2, 2016, at the age of 90. Dr. Raphael will be remembered as someone who lived her life with dedication to her community, family, and to her career in the field of medical anthropology. Dr. Raphael was born on January 5, 1926, in New Britain, Connecticut, to Louis Raphael and Naomi Kaplan. From a very young age, education was of great importance to Dr. Raphael. She attended Columbia University, where she earned both her bachelor's and doctorate degrees. While at Columbia University, Dr. Raphael was a protegee of cultural anthropologist, Margaret Mead and became one of the first scientists that challenged milk formula manufacturers. In 1953, Dr. Raphael married the love of her life, Howard Boone Jacobson, and as a newlywed, completed her initial field work in India. Dr. Raphael soon became a respected medical anthropologist, writer, and lecturer. She is well-known for her global work in supporting breast feeding and is credited for launching the Doula movement in the United States. Dr. Raphael first used the term doula in her 1969 anthropological study to describe women caregivers during labor and childbirth whose function was associated with the success of breastfeeding. In 1975, Dr. Raphael and Margaret Mead co-founded the Human Lactation Center (HLC). The HLC researches lactation patterns around the world and is also an NGO with consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Her advocacy allowed her to take on companies like Nestle in the 1980s pushing them to become more aware of the role producers of formula played in infant mortality in developing countries. Dr. Raphael's contributions to these projects resulted in the implementation of education programs for young mothers to prevent unnecessary deaths of newborns. Her willingness to help people was conveyed in her book Tender Gift: Breastfeeding, which was published in 1973. The book was a product of Dr. Raphael's own sadness of not being able to breastfeed her son and outlined a number of tools for women to assist with successful breastfeeding. The book went on to be known as the breastfeeding bible by many in the midwife and doula community. During the last 20 years of her life, Dr. Raphael served on the U.S. Board of the Club of Rome where she committed herself to educating world leaders on the impacts of climate change. She also served as an Adjunct Professor at Yale University, was an invited lecturer in the U.S., China, India, and Japan, and was a recipient of two Fulbright awards. Throughout her career, Dr. Raphael recognized the importance of serving her community and expressed a profound love for it. Her contributions to women around the world will be her legacy. She is survived by her sons, Seth Jacobson and Brett Raphael, daughter, Jessa Murnin, and her six grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in honoring the life of Dr. Dana Louise Raphael. Dr. Raphael touched and aided many people throughout her life. Her advocacy, deep commitment, and positive attitude will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the twenty-eighth anniversary of the pogroms against people of Armenian descent in Sumgait, Azerbaijan. Peaceful demonstrations descended into chaos when Azerbaijani rioters attacked Armenian men and women advocating for democracy on February 27, 1988. After three days of unspeakable violence, hundreds of Armenians lost their lives and thousands more no longer had a place to call home. Undeterred by Soviet oppression, the Armenian community and its dedication to democratic self-determination sparked a movement that finally helped bring an end to the dictatorship of the Soviet Union. The courage demonstrated by the Armenian people of Nagorno Karabakh in demanding their rights even after all of the adversity is admirable and should never be forgotten. Today, authoritarian leaders in Azerbaijan continue to aggravate efforts by the OSCE Minsk Group to achieve lasting peace in Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding region. This ancient Christian land has borne witness to several crimes against humanity over the years, and I have hope the United States will take on its moral responsibility to ensure the people of Armenia do not live in fear. On behalf of the thousands of Armenian Americans living in my congressional district, I invite my colleagues to stand with me and the proud people of Nagorno Karabakh in remembering the lives lost and reinvigorating our commitment to freedom and democracy.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about one of the most important issues facing the San Joaquin Valley, and that is the access to water. California has received well-above-average rainfall during the months of December and January. But for the past several weeks, we have seen dry conditions, once again, come back. For the last several weeks I have tried to speak on behalf of the need to make changes so that we can urge the Federal agencies to pump water at maximum levels that are allowed under the biological opinions, so that we could bring more water to the San Joaquin Valley and the farms located south of the delta. It is welcome news that they are pumping at more robust levels, and it is my hope that we will continue to pump at maximum levels when allowable, especially because these El Nino conditions that we have had in December and January are now fading, sadly. With the possibility of California's rainy and snow seasons coming to an end, and with much less precipitation than we had hoped for, we must take advantage of every drop of precious water that is in the system. We need a comprehensive plan to fix California's broken water system that provides short-term operational flexibility and, at the same time, increases the State's long-term drought resiliency that will provide real water reliability and actually recovers species that have been listed in the Sacramento, San Joaquin Delta. It is time to address these issues that are impacting these species in the delta and implement a plan to recover them so that we can stop operating the water system primarily with the blunt tools of the Endangered Species Act that clearly aren't working. They are not working because the species are not recovering. Studies have indicated that on some rivers feeding into the delta, over 98 percent of the juvenile salmon are eaten by invasive species like the striped bass that aren't even native to California. Despite this knowledge and the clear protections provided listed species by the Endangered Species Act, the administration has established a goal to double the amount of striped bass in California. It should not be the policy of the United States to increase the populations of invasive species that prey on native salmon in California. I don't get it. This makes absolutely no sense and needs to be corrected. We should be implementing a predator control program which, I might add, is supported by the Salmon Fisheries Institute. As a matter of fact, they have got over 31 programs on predator control that they would like to implement. They can't implement one of them. We should be focusing on trying to make a difference, and that is why I am proud to be a cosponsor of Representative Jeff Denham's legislation, the Save Our Salmon Act. The Save Our Salmon Act, by Congressman Denham, would eliminate the policy of doubling striped bass populations in the delta, a policy which has very serious negative impacts to our native salmon species and causes tremendous harm to the farm communities in the San Joaquin Valley. We have to determine if California is going to operate with a broken system or if Congress, the administration, and the State can come together with Federal and State legislation to provide meaningful solutions to fix our broken water system for the future, for the 21st century. Will we allow communities to dry up and blow away, as some of my colleagues, I believe, sometimes infer? Or will we come together and craft a solution that can improve conditions for everyone across the State, while focusing on drought recovery for those who have been most affected in areas that I represent? I am talking about farm workers. I am talking about farmers. I am talking about farm communities that put food every night on America's dinner table. I will continue to believe that we still can come together if we focus on achievable solutions. After years of moving more and more water through the delta in an attempt to halt species decline, we haven't actually recovered any of these species. It is high time, I believe, to try something new. I remain committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to craft solutions that increase California's drought resiliency and provide water to the communities who have been most impacted by the recent drought because, after all, this is about security. It is about job security, it is about economic security, it is about the future security of our valley and the State of California. We must fix California's broken water system for the short term and the long term. Time is of the essence, and every day of delay only results in losses of these vital water supplies.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Steven and Katherine Diebert on the celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary. Steven and Katherine Diebert were married on February 26, 1966 in Fresno, California. They met as young students at Roosevelt High School by the drinking fountain; however, their paths unknowingly had crossed as children in 1953 when Steven was one of Hopalong Cassidy's cowboy sidekicks at a Fresno department store called Coopers. Katherine's mother brought her to meet Hopalong Cassidy on that day, and little did she know that the boy by Hoppy's side would one day be her husband and that they would raise two beautiful daughters together. In December of 1965, Steven proposed to Katherine and they were joined in marriage on February 26, 1966 at the First Baptist Church in Fresno. Despite many opportunities to leave the Central Valley over the last 50 years, they chose to remain in Fresno and raised their family here. The highlight of their marriage have been their two daughters, Stephanie (along with her husband, Kenneth) and Melissa (along with her husband, Layne), who have blessed them with five grandchildren, Leo Stephen, Ari Benjamin, Kaitlin Jade, Ella Rose, and Harrison Steven. Steven Diebert was born on July 10, 1943 in Fresno, California to parents of Volga German descent, who were also born and raised in the San Joaquin Valley. Steven was a highly regarded football player at Roosevelt High School, where he proudly graduated from in 1961. Following high school, Steven attended Fresno State University where he graduated with a degree in Political Economy in 1966. Upon receiving his bachelor's degree, Steven went on to work for the Xerox Corporation where he worked for two years. In 1968, he returned to Fresno State to continue his education and received a graduate degree to become a Certified Public Accountant. Following graduate school, he worked for the national accounting firm Touche Ross and in 1975, he was appointed by then California Controller, Ken Cory, to serve as a California Probate Referee. Steven is regarded as one of the finest probate referees in California and has carefully developed a reputation as a straight shooter and as a man of great integrity. Katherine Diebert was born on November 6, 1944 in Fresno, California. Her parents were of Armenian, English and Irish decent and lived the majority of their lives in Fresno. Katherine graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1962 and went on to attend Fresno City College. In 1964, she began working in the medical administration and billing department at Fresno Medical Group. Katherine continued to work at Fresno Medical Group until she and Steven were blessed with their first daughter, Stephanie in 1971. Upon the birth of their second daughter, Melissa in 1975, Katherine decided to take some time off of work to raise her children. In 1977 Katherine returned to work for Internal Medicine and Associates where she worked until her retirement in 2008. While, building a beautiful family and successful career, Katherine has maintained a beautiful home and has continued to keep a meticulous and stunning garden. Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Steven and Katherine Diebert on their fifty years of marriage and may they be blessed with many more. They serve as a prime example to us all of what it means to be committed to strong family values.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that amendment No. 4 be printed in House Report 114-429 and be modified in the form that I have placed at the desk. The Clerk will report the modification.

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Chairman, as the designee of the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Bustos), I offer amendment No. 4.

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Chairman, Representative Bustos and I would like to thank Congressmen Beyer and Wittman and the Rules Committee for allowing us to present this amendment on the floor. This amendment would help ensure that the interests of small businesses that rely on wildlife conservation and recreational hunting continue to thrive. As established by this bill, the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee's duties would include advising the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture on policies and programs that help increase the participation in hunting and wildlife conservation activities and promote awareness of the importance of both wildlife conservation and the economic benefits of recreational hunting. There is no question that recreational hunting has economic benefits. In 2011, hunters put $38.3 billion into our economy. The small businesses across the country that cater to the needs of these hunters and wildlife watchers--be they stores, hotels, trail guides--are bedrocks of our local economies that are near our public lands. We know that. As is, however, none of the governmental bodies set to serve on this advisory committee that is being proposed as a part of this legislation represent the perspective or the needs of these small businesses. Small businesses are the economic engine that is driving our economy. We know that. It has been that way for years. They should not be left behind or be left out of this. This amendment would simply add the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to be listed as an ex-officio member of this advisory committee. Having a representative from the Small Business Administration or their designee will strengthen the voice of small businesses that rely on tourism associated with hunting or shooting or sports or recreational or wildlife activities that this legislation intends to promote. So my colleague, Representative Bustos, and I ask that you join us in supporting this small-business amendment ensuring that they have a seat at the table by supporting this effort. Mr. Chairman, I ask for an ``aye'' vote. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention again to the devastating drought that has impacted California for over 4 years. Much is said about California and the success that we have had post- World War II, but a lot of it is owed to the fact that we have developed a water system, both a Federal and State water project, that allows us to move water throughout California for beneficial use to every region of California, and that has been a great success. But today that water system is broken. It is broken because it was designed to meet the needs of 20 million people and the agriculture that we had in the 1960s and 1970s. Today we have over 40 million people in California, we have more intensive agriculture, producing half the Nation's fruits and vegetables--the leading agricultural State in the Nation--and demands for water for the environment that was not part of the project in the beginning. I have made and will continue to make it a priority to speak on the House floor regularly regarding the devastating drought impacts and will attempt to offer solutions both for the State and Federal agencies to maximize our ability to move water through the system where it is most needed to ensure that we also make the changes at the Federal level and at the State level to fix this magnificent but broken water system today that no longer can meet all of the demands and needs that are subscribed for it. Protecting and securing a reliable water supply in the San Joaquin Valley is arguably the most important issue facing the region of 4 million people that I, along with four of my other colleagues, represent. We worry every day about job security and the future success of the San Joaquin Valley's economy, which are directly dependent upon our access to a reliable and secure supply of water that is of high quality. The people of the valley and the entire State of California have been directly impacted by this devastating drought in one way or another. There are many examples of how the San Joaquin Valley, a place I represent, has been impacted: Over 6,000 acres of productive agricultural land has been fallowed, unplanted. The land in the San Joaquin Valley is subsiding because, out of devastating need, families are drilling deeper wells to meet their everyday needs to keep what land they can in production and permanent crops irrigated, and farmers are pumping groundwater at unsustainable rates to avoid the catastrophic impacts of pulling out hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of permanent crops. Unemployment in the San Joaquin Valley is twice as high as the rest of the country; and in 2015 alone, California lost $2.2 billion as a result of the drought. These devastating impacts have brought many of us to pray for rain and snow in the mountains, but that is not enough. We need to fix this broken water system. While we will continue to hope for the El Nino year to bring additional rainfall amounts that are significantly greater than average, we know that that is not enough. With above-average rainfall and snow in the mountains, San Joaquin Valley communities and farmers can now rest easy; right? Sadly, no. Since October 1, 2015, over 3.4 million acre-feet of water has gone out into the ocean. That is water that could be used in the valley and in southern California. This is nearly 1.1 trillion gallons of water. To put that number in context, an average American family uses around 400 gallons of water a day. My point is that only a small amount of water is being pumped out of the delta to move south for the San Joaquin Valley to assist the farm communities, as well as for southern California. We have yet to recover from the devastating impacts of the drought over the last 4 years, even though we have got more water this year as a result of the El Nino conditions. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced recently that, even with well-above average rainfall, reservoirs in California are still below the 15-year average for this time of year, and there is no Federal water stored in a major reservoir, the San Luis Reservoir, for the San Joaquin Valley that would be available for water this summer. Yet, this week, we were devastated to hear that the Bureau of Reclamation is releasing 200,000 acre-feet out of Folsom Lake because of flood control purposes. We are not moving that water--not even 100,000 acre-feet--through the system. That is just not right. This is directly due to the unwillingness of State and Federal agencies to pump water at the maximum levels based the biological opinions that many of us believe are flawed because the science is at least 10 years old. While weather patterns have had a great impact on the delivery of water over the last 4 years, it has only been one of the impacts. We must make a difference. We must fix this broken water system. I will continue to update the Members of the House on the challenges we face and on legislation that is important to do just that.