Jim Costa

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dave Henderson who passed away December 27, 2015, at the age of 57. Dave was born in Merced, California, on July 21, 1958. He attended Dos Palos High School and is the school's most celebrated athlete. During his high schools years, he was a star baseball and football player. Dave led the Dos Palos High Broncos varsity football team to two Central Valley championships. He had great success as a football player, but Dave decided to progress as a baseball player and accepted a scholarship to play baseball at California State University, Fresno. In 1977, Dave was drafted number one overall by the Seattle Mariners, and his big league career began in 1981 as a center fielder for the Mariners. Dave played for the Mariners for six seasons. Baseball fans will best remember Dave for his two strike, two out, ninth inning, game-tying home run as a member of the Boston Red Sox. Thanks to his heroics, the Red Sox won Game five in extra innings and completed a comeback from a three to one American League Championship Series deficit to win the pennant, earning a trip to the 1986 World Series. Dave found his stride as a member of the Oakland Athletics where he played in three consecutive World Series and was a member of the 1989 World Series Champion team. He had career high statistics and was selected to be on the 1991 All-Star team. In 1994, Dave ended his career as a baseball player after playing 14 seasons with five teams, including the Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics and Kansas City Royals. After retiring as player, Dave worked as a color analyst for the Seattle Mariners' broadcasts. Dave was active in several philanthropic endeavors and believed that giving back was important. He raised money to support research for Angelman Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. Additionally, he was also one of the founders of Rick's Toys for Kids, a charity which provides dozens of agencies with toys so that thousands of children could receive Christmas gifts who would otherwise go without receiving one. Beginning in high school and into his career in the major leagues, Dave was known by his teammates and coaches for his ever-present smile and positive demeanor. As his former coach Mike Sparks said, ``I will always remember that big smile . . . He treated everyone like they were a friend.'' Dave is survived by his sisters Jeannie, Terry, Patricia, and Michelle, brother Al, first wife Loni, wife Nancy, and his two sons Chase and Trent, and Trent's wife Dani. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life of a great man, Dave Henderson.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of my good friend Dan Nelson, who is retiring after 24 years as the original Executive Director of the San Luis & Delta Mendota Water Authority. Since its inception the Water Authority has been well-served by Dan's brilliance, positive outlook, enormous knowledge and engaging personality. Dan was educated at the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire and Fresno State after having grown up in Los Banos, California. Dan brought the experience to the fledgling Water Authority that he gained as General Manager of the San Luis Water District (1987-1991) and the Broadview Water District (1979-1987), as well as experience in the Operations Division of the San Luis Canal Company (1977-1979). As Executive Director Dan promoted respect, integrity, fairness, creativity, drive and a deep appreciation of family among those that he worked with. To address the complex issues before the Water Authority Dan had the vision to create a three-legged strategy for both short and long-term issues: administrative engagement, regulatory/legislative engagement, and litigation. This approach fostered a framework for thoughtful decision-making during challenging times. Dan served the water community outside of his responsibilities with the Water Authority by participating in numerous water-related organizations such as the Land Preservation Association, California Irrigation Institute, Association of California Water Associations, California Water Education Foundation and many other boards, committees, and stakeholder groups. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me, as well as the entire San Luis Delta-Mendota Water Authority family, in recognizing Dan Nelson's 24 years of service.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bill Blake, who passed away January 10, 2016 surrounded by his friends and loved ones. He was 65. Bill was born and raised in Merced. As a young man he worked on farms until joining the Merced Sheriff's Office in 1971 at the age of 21. Bill served eight sheriffs over a 38 year period, working all across Merced County including Los Banos and the surrounding West Side. In 2003 Bill was named undersheriff by newly elected Sheriff Mark Pazin; who described Blake as an excellent undersheriff, a great friend, and ``a tough, no-nonsense guy: never afraid to mix it up with anybody or to tell anybody what he thought . . . we could disagree on things and he was never shy about letting me know his thoughts; but in the end, he never, ever held a grudge''. Current Merced County Sheriff Verne Warnke, who met Blake in the 1970s, echoed that sentiment: ``He taught me that you could take care of business and move on without any grudge whatsoever''. Warnke credits Blake, and his manner of dealing with people, as a strong influence on him. Former Sheriff Tom Cavallero's first supervisor in the Merced County Sheriff's department was Bill Blake, whom he described as being ``without a doubt the single most influential person I've known in my whole career''. Blake retired from law enforcement in 2009 after winning election to the Merced City Council, where he served two terms. Blake is survived by numerous grandchildren and his three children Billy, Tiffany, and Kevin; who followed in his father's footsteps as a sergeant in the Sheriff's Office and current Merced City Councilmember. Bill will be remembered for his accomplishments as a family man and a public servant who leaves behind a proud legacy of fighting for public safety and social justice. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me on this day in a moment of silence in memory of the life and service of Bill Blake. The contributions that he gave throughout his life have, and will continue to have, a lasting impression on the fabric of Merced. He will be missed by many, more than he'll ever know.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of Dr. Alex Moir, who passed away on December 19, 2015, at the age of 53. Dr. Moir was an extraordinary individual and he will always be remembered as someone who lived his life with purpose and great dedication to his family, patients, and community. Dr. Moir attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he received a bachelor's degree, prior to attending the University of Miami, where he received his medical degree. Upon graduating from the University of Miami, Dr. Moir completed his residency in Family and Community Medicine at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Fresno and joined the faculty after graduating. Among his many contributions to the Valley, Dr. Moir focused his work on rural and small communities, the education of resident medical students, midlevel providers in the practice of full scope family medicine, and Latino and medically underserved health care. Dr. Moir also taught and practiced rural medicine in the Selma area for twenty years, serving as the Director for Selma Pathway from 1995 until he took on the role of Chief at UCSF Fresno. Furthermore, he was active on the medical staff of Selma Hospital (now Adventist Medical Center, Selma), previously serving as Chief of Staff and Chief of Medicine. Throughout his career, Dr. Moir received many teaching awards and was recognized by the Adventist/Central Valley Network with the Physician of the Year Mission award. He received this award for his commitment in providing physical, mental, and spiritual care to his patients, something for which he was well known. As an advocate of health awareness, Dr. Moir frequently spoke to high school and college students about healthcare and medically underserved communities. Furthermore, he was also a member of the American Academy of Family Medicine, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, the American Medical Association, the Children's Medical Associates and the Fresno- Madera Medical Society. Dr. Moir's contributions to the people he touched will be his legacy. He clearly was a patient's doctor and was viewed as an excellent teacher and well-respected practitioner of medicine by all his peers. While he administered to his patients, he also found joy in teaching his students. More important, while he could have taught and practiced medicine in many places, he chose to be where he was most needed, in our Valley. He is survived by his wife Elise Hallowell Moir and their sons Taylor and Alden Moir. 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. Moir. Dr. Moir touched and aided so many throughout his much too short life. His loving nature and genuine character will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I, along with Representative McCarthy and Representative Valadao, rise today to congratulate Mr. Jacob Chapman Belin, Jr. on his well-deserved retirement as President of Kern Oil & Refining Co. He deserves to be commended for his tireless work within the petroleum industry and for his outstanding work with Kern Oil for the past forty-four years. Mr. Belin was born in Port St. Joe, Florida on March 31, 1948 to Jacob Chapman Belin, Sr. and Myrle Fillingim Belin. As a young student, Mr. Belin was actively engaged in his studies and was well-known for his passion for basketball. He attended Port St. Joe High School where he was recognized as Florida's second-leading scorer in basketball, served as President of his senior class, and graduated as valedictorian in 1966. Upon graduation from high school, Mr. Belin attended North Carolina State University (NCSU) where he graduated in 1970 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Sciences and Applied Mathematics, with a dual minor in Engineering Mechanics and Economics. While at NCSU, Mr. Belin was also a member of Phi Kappa Phi, one of the nation's oldest multidisciplinary collegiate honor societies. Mr. Belin went on to attend Georgia Institute of Technology from 1970-1972 in pursuit of a Master's Degree in Industrial Management. During the summer of 1972, Mr. Belin began to work at Charter Oil Company in Jacksonville, Florida. While at Charter Oil Company, Mr. Belin had the opportunity to work with different Charter Oil Company subsidiaries, which included Kern County Refinery (now known as Kern Oil and Refining Co.). The work that Mr. Belin did with Kern County Refinery led him to accept a job offer at the Kern County Refinery office in Cerritos, California in April of 1974. Mr. Belin worked in the Refinery's crude oil and products supply marketing department until 1977. While pursuing his career in the petroleum industry, Mr. Belin married the love of his life Betty Grace Phillips on June 29, 1974. Together they had one son, Phillip Andrew Belin who was born on October 5, 1977. Mr. and Mrs. Belin always ensured that Phillip was involved in sports and recreational activities. Furthermore, Mr. Belin was very active in young Phillip's Little League baseball program, was a manager of several of Phillip's youth baseball teams, and coached his youth basketball team for several years alongside his good friends, Tom Jensen and Ed Lassiter. Phillip married Marie Milligan and has blessed Mr. Belin and Betty with four grandchildren, Simon, James, Whitney and Serena. In addition to being a family man, Mr. Belin is a man of faith and has been heavily involved in faith-based activities within the communities he lived in over the past years. These activities include serving as an adult Sunday school teacher at Champion Forest Baptist Church and being a member of Rolling Hills Covenant Church as well as Peninsula Community Church. By mid-1977, Mr. Belin had opened a crude oil, products and LPG trading office for Kern County Refinery in Houston, Texas. He served in the Houston office until 1984 and was then relocated back to Long Beach, California to what was known as Kern Oil and Refining Co. It was in Long Beach, in 1985 that Mr. Belin was promoted and became President of Kern Oil and Refining Co. Mr. Belin received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences at NCSU in 1993. Furthermore, Mr. Belin was a huge factor in the growth of Kern, transitioning the company from a 10,000 barrel per day plant to the safe, competitive, and compliant, 27,000 barrel-per-day small and independent California refinery that it is today. Over the past forty-four years, Mr. Belin has been a great leader and extremely dedicated to Kern, which has ultimately brought the company to success. In Mr. Belin's words, ``I gave everything I could to Kern; as one might say in the game of basketball, I left it all on the court! My career goals were simple: work hard; ask others their opinion/ thoughts; listen to them; be decisive; show others the respect they deserve; and defend Kern.'' Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that we ask our colleagues in the House of Representatives to join us in paying tribute to the career of Mr. Jacob Chapman Belin, Jr. We thank him for his service and lasting contributions to California's petroleum industry.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on the current status of California's devastating drought. I urge the California State and Federal agencies to maximize the pumping of water in the delta to the allowable legal limits. As a result of State and Federal agencies' inability to operate at the most flexible range available under the Biological Opinions of the Endangered Species Act, over 44,000 acre-feet of water has been lost just this last week during these El Nino conditions, and over 131,000 acre-feet of water has been lost this year, water that could be used to grow crops and to feed people. This is morally wrong. Congress must pass legislation to provide relief for the people of the San Joaquin Valley and California. Senator Feinstein's introduction of water legislation is a critical step. I urge the Senate to pass her legislation so we can enter into negotiations with the House-passed bill, which I strongly support. Time is of the essence. Every day of delay only results in further losses of the vital water that is necessary for the people of the valley and the people of California. Californians need to use this water during these times of El Nino conditions. I urge that we do the right thing.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Terry's House, a hospitality home dedicated to providing affordable and convenient lodging for families of patients in critical care units at the Community Regional Medical Center. This year Terry's House is celebrating its five year anniversary of continuous service in Downtown Fresno, California. Since its inception in 2011, Terry's House has served over 3,600 families, from forty-two states and twenty-three countries around the world. Operating solely on donations, Terry's House has been made possible by the generosity of the community, and it is their hope that they may continue to assist families of those in critical care for many years to come. This residential facility is named in honor of Terry Richards who suffered and survived a serious trauma at the age of five when he was injured in a car accident. For nearly five months, his mother, Marie Richards traveled nearly 80 miles a day to see her son while he was recovering in the hospital. Her story was the story of many people before Terry's House opened its doors. Many families had to seek accommodations miles from the hospital, and many who couldn't afford lodging slept in waiting rooms, in their cars, or had to try their best to find a spot in a busy hospital. Often, patients' loved ones had no alternative but to the leave the hospital and make the long drive home. Terry's House addresses this need, and has provided families with a home away from home, while their love ones receive care. Terry's House is situated on 17,000 square feet and features two stories of living quarters located across the street from the Community Regional Medical Center, so families can visit their loved ones daily. The twenty hotel and suite style rooms at Terry's House have a capacity of up to four individuals and feature various amenities, including balcony seating areas, in-room refrigerators, access to adjoining rooms for increased capacity, and various common areas including a kitchen, dining area, laundry facility, and children's play room. Terry's House was made possible by the tireless work of Terry Richards's brother, Tom Richards, a local community developer and CEO of the Penstar Group. With the dedication of Tom Richards, Leta Ciavaglia, Christa Short, the Terry's House Development Council, the Community Regional Medical Center Foundation and many generous members of the community, a family dream has become a reality. The sustainability of Terry's House is entirely dependent on private gifts, contributions from generous individuals, and organizations. More than $5 million was raised to initially build and furnish the home. In addition to generous gifts from Tom Richards and Bank of America, a large number of in-kind donations also continue to assist in sustaining the ongoing operations of the home. Terry's House has been fortunate enough to receive staffing support from the Community Medical Centers. To minimize costs, volunteers generously perform many of the daily operations of the home. Mr. Speaker, for the last five years, Terry's House has had the privilege and responsibility of housing families as they face some of the most difficult days of their lives. Terry's House has been there for them, and will continue to be there thanks to the generosity and support of our community. Through their selfless service, Terry's House has made an immense difference in the lives of so many individuals, and it is important that we recognize them for all that they have done and will continue to do for years to come.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of the late Betty Rodriguez and inauguration of the state of the art Betty Rodriguez Regional Library named in her honor. The newly reconstructed 14,000 square foot library located in east-central Fresno features 25 computers, a 3-D printer, and robotics kits, making it Fresno County's newest, most technologically advanced library. The library also features a meeting room for 50, group study spaces, and a separate quiet reading room. The site on which the Betty Rodriguez Regional Library exists, is nearly double the size of its 40 year predecessor, and creates a significant advancement for the City of Fresno. This new library serves as a reminder to all of the life of Betty Rodriguez, and the legacy she created within the community through her selfless dedication to others. Mrs. Rodriguez was an individual of outstanding character and throughout her career, achieved a great deal of success and impacted the lives of many. Mrs. Rodriguez was an inspiration to all, especially to students and young children, teaching them that through hard work and education, they are able to achieve success in their lives. Mrs. Rodriguez dedicated her life to serving as a role model for our youth by motivating them to dream big and to work hard. Demonstrating her strong commitment to our youth, Betty was a member of Friends of the Fresno County Library, and was a great supporter of the Boys and Girls Club of Fresno County, the Boy Scouts of America, the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, and the Special Olympics. Public service was important to Mrs. Rodriguez, and she was very active in many community organizations. For example, Betty served on Fresno's Torreon Sister City Committee, a non-profit organization that supports the development of partnerships between U.S. cities and cities around the world. She also helped to launch the League of Mexican American Women in 1973 in order to help women in her community become more politically aware and to facilitate the contribution of their services for schools and organizations. For her contributions to the Mexican-American community, she was awarded the ``Medalla de Ohtli'' by the Institute of Mexicans Abroad, in 2009. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a woman who always demonstrated a strong commitment to serving others. The new library, located near Cedar and Clinton Avenues in Fresno, will rightly bear the name of someone who has positively influenced the lives of so many people in the community. Her memory will live on through her family and will continue to serve as a reminder to all who access the state of the art library. It is a beautiful tribute to the life of Mrs. Betty Rodriguez, and I know she will continue to inspire others through her ever-lasting presence at the Betty Rodriguez Regional Library.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Mr. Dino Antonio Petrucci of Madera, California who recently passed away on January 4, 2016, at the age of 85. Mr. Petrucci was a remarkable farmer, teacher, and business owner of Petrucci's catering. His commitment to family and to his community will forever live in lives of the people he touched. Dino Antonio Petrucci was born to Italian immigrant parents, Vincenzo and Ilide Petrucci, on January 17, 1930. His parents were members of the large Italian community who helped settle and pioneer Madera, California with its rich agricultural history. A lifelong resident, he attended Madera schools and enrolled at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he received his bachelor's degree in crop production. In 1951, he married the love of his life, Peggy Hayes, and they would have celebrated 65 years of marriage this March. As an Agriculture Education instructor, he found joy in teaching and in expanding students' minds by showing them what they were capable of. All in all, Dino spent 40 plus years of his life devoted to Vocational Agriculture and Education. Although he was a fulltime teacher, Dino would spend evenings, and weekends helping his brother Enzo on the family grape farm. Dino was also passionate about cooking and in 1974, he initiated his catering business, Petrucci's Catering. He expanded and bought the Howard School building and used it to host events. Saturday's were his favorite, because he loved being at the old school house serving barbecue tri tip, chicken and side dishes. His favorite place to be was at the end of the buffet line greeting everyone, and making sure their plates were full. Dino's love for food was so strong he developed his own barbecue sauce, ``Petrucci's Secret Sauce'' and a dry meat rub that are sold locally. Civil service and giving back to his community were two other areas of interest to Dino. He was active in The Young Farmers, Lions Club and Italo-American Club of Madera. He served on the boards of the Madera County Farm Bureau, Madera County Food Bank, and Madera Unified School District Board of Education. In 1999, he was honored as the Madera County Senior Farmer of the Year by the Madera Chamber of Commerce. Without question, Dino's integrity, honor, and long-lasting involvement in the Central Valley made him a reputable man; he was well known, well-liked, and shown enormous appreciation by anyone who had the pleasure of calling him a friend. Dino lived his life to the fullest surrounded by family and friends. He leaves behind his loving family, including his wife, Peggy, his two children, and grandchildren. It is my honor to join his family in celebrating the life of this amazing man, who will never be forgotten. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring the life of Mr. Dino Antonio Petrucci. We are all better for having known Dino Petrucci, a remarkable Californian, and Central Valley Native.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of Sarkis Sahatdjian of Madera, California, who recently passed away on December 29, 2015--at the age of 95. Mr. Sahatdjian was a remarkable farmer of 80 years, and a generous leader who was prideful of his community, and Armenian roots. Sarkis Sahatdjian was born in Constantinople in 1920 to Armenian parents, Vagharshag and Makrouhi Sahatdjian. The Sahatdjians were survivors of the Armenian Genocide of 1915, an event Sarkis would never forget. His family set sail on an unpredictable journey when Sarkis was two years old, and his brother Haig only five days old. The Sahatdjian family first landed in Buenos Aires, Argentina where they resided for one year and a half. After this the family immigrated to the United States, arriving through Ellis Island, and eventually settling in California's San Joaquin Valley in April of 1924. The Sahatdjians started off as migrant workers, working at canneries and packing houses throughout California following the crop cycles. In 1928, the family bought their first farm--twenty acres of vineyards, where Sarkis worked after school and on weekends while attending Central High School. After graduating from high school in 1939, Sarkis worked at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, repairing warships. Sarkis joined the Army Air Force, serving in Guam during World War II as a military policeman guarding Japanese prisoners of war. After the war he married Iris Odabashian in 1947, and soon after had three children. The couple went on to purchase a farm in Madera, California in 1947, and Sarkis returned to farming. In 1963, Sarkis and his brother Haig Sahatdjian, purchased raisin processing equipment, placed it on 40 acres in Madera and named it in memory of their late father: Victor Packing. Victor Packing became a full-time farming and packing business when Sarkis and his brother Haig began to process and pack their own raisins along with the raisins of other growers. The business required all hands on deck. Sarkis's wife Iris handled the payroll; their eldest child Victor and his high school friends worked as clean-up crew; and their daughter Margaret and youngest child Bill joined in later. The family company Sarkis co-founded has grown to become a leader in the raisin industry; growing, dehydrating, processing, and packing raisins that are sold and shipped worldwide. Victor Packing remains a family business, and currently employs five of Sarkis's 12 grandchildren. Hard work, desire, and business acumen ultimately paid off for the Sahatdjian brothers. Not only was Sarkis a well-known businessman, he was also dedicated to serving his community. Sarkis was a board member of the local VFW; a benefactor and delegate of Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church; major donor to California State University, Fresno's Viticulture and Armenian Studies Department; major donor to Fresno Community Hospital; board member of the Armenian Community School of Fresno; founding board member of the Armenian Technology Group; and countless other local, regional and international charities. Further, he was also a major contributor in establishing the Armenian Genocide Centennial Monument, which marked 100 years since the start of the genocide in Armenia in 1915. The monument is displayed at California State University, Fresno and is the first monument on a U.S. college campus marking the genocide. Without question, Mr. Sarkis's integrity, honor and long-lasting involvement in the Central Valley made him a reputable man; he was well known, well-liked and shown enormous appreciation by anyone who had the pleasure of calling him a friend. Sarkis lived his life to the fullest, surrounded by family and friends. He leaves behind his loving family, including his wife of 68 years, Iris, their two sons and daughter; their spouses, twelve grandchildren, and four 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 join me in honoring the life of Sarkis Sahatdjian. His commitment to family and to his community will forever live in the lives of the people he touched. We are all better for having known Sarkis Sahatdjian, a remarkable Californian, and Central Valley native.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of May Ying Mary Yang of Merced, California who passed away on November 22, 2015, at the age of 69. Mrs. Yang's family and friends will miss her greatly as she dedicated her life to assisting those she met and always strived to make a difference in the community. May Ying Mary Yang was born on October 1, 1946 in Xieng Khouang, Laos. When she was 15 years old, she married a military man, Ge Paul Yang, whom she would spend the rest of her life with. In 1975, the Yang family made the decision to flee from the war in Vietnam with their 8 children in order to seek refuge in a refugee camp in Thailand, prior to immigrating to the United States. When they arrived to the refugee camp, the Yang family had no money or food for their children and faced numerous hardships. Additionally, while living in the refugee camp, the family witnessed many children dying from malnutrition and diseases. It goes without saying that Mrs. Yang overcame many struggles in her life and managed to persevere in order to provide her family with a safe future lifestyle. Throughout her life, Mrs. Yang touched many lives. Her commitment to her husband, Ge Paul Yang played a huge role in his career. Further, Mrs. Yang was known as an intelligent woman with a big heart, who was compassionate and always encouraging. She actively made a difference in her community alongside her husband, preparing meals, planning community events, and engaging in social work. The Yang family did this as a means to maintain a strong Hmong group within the community. Mrs. Yang's work led to more Hmong individuals believing in the concept of ``giving more than what one is called upon to give.'' Her work was instrumental to the development of the belief that women should be equal and that equality is not based on gender. These beliefs were instilled in Mrs. Yang's children and she always encouraged them to succeed. Further, the dedication Mrs. Yang had to serving her community; her integrity, honor, and long service to the Central Valley made her a cherished figure. Her commitment to family and to her community will forever live in the lives of the people she touched. It is my honor to join Mrs. Yang's family in celebrating a life that will never be forgotten. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a great woman of tireless service and dedication to her community. Mrs. Yang's memory will live on through her family and be remembered by our entire community.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to bring attention to the failure of California State agencies and Federal agencies to properly manage California's water system as a result of the El Nino storms that we have been receiving. El Nino years, like this one, are California's hope of digging out of the historical drought conditions that we are facing. There is very high likelihood that most of the State will experience flood conditions, while communities in the San Joaquin Valley that I represent will receive a zero water allocation. This year we have already missed an opportunity to move significant amounts of water to regions of California that need it most in the San Joaquin Valley. As a result of the State and Federal agencies' inability to operate in the most flexible range allowable, over 160,000 acre-feet of water has been lost this week alone and over half a million acre-feet has been lost this year. Meanwhile, an estimated total of 2 million acre- feet of water has gone out to the ocean. State and Federal agencies are failing to take advantage of the water in the system today, and that is unacceptable. It is a disservice to all Californians. It is simply immoral.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the fifth anniversary of Terry's House, a home that provides families with a place to stay when their loved ones are in critical care units at Fresno's Community Regional Medical Center. The inspiration for the home came from Terry Richards, who suffered a serious head trauma when he was a child, and his mother had to travel over 80 miles a day to be with him. Now, thanks to Terry's House, over 3,600 families from 42 States and 23 countries, who would otherwise have found themselves in similar circumstances, have been provided with an affordable, comfortable place to stay across the street from the hospital where their loved ones are. Terry's House is dependent on generous supporters. I would like to thank them and their staff for all that they do for a positive difference for the families who are going through this very, very difficult time. We cannot say thank you enough to my friend, Tom Richards, and his mother, Marie. Their efforts have made this important home a reality for all as a living memory for Terry, who is no longer with us. Thank God for them and thank God for Terry's House.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform that even if the El Nino rains and snows continue, the drought crisis in California is not over. The need to get California water legislation passed and signed into law in Washington and Sacramento is more urgent now than ever. While the people I represent are hurting and over 1 million acres of some of the most productive farmland in the world goes unplanted, people in our country and around the world, sadly, go hungry. If this El Nino effect continues, there will be an opportunity to move water to arguably the driest part of California, which I represent a part of. Therefore, Congress must pass legislation that can provide short-term relief so water can be delivered to the San Joaquin Valley, because the livelihood of our farmers, farm workers, and farm communities depend on it. There still is time. We have a broken water system in California. It is time we fix it. Failing to pass legislation to fix our broken water system is irresponsible and a disservice to all Californians, including the people who I represent.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support and stand with the Sikh community in the San Joaquin Valley. In the past 2 weeks, two Sikh men have been brutally attacked and, very sadly, one of them was killed. He lost his life. The Fresno City Police Department has labeled these two crimes as potential hate crimes. Amrik Singh Bal was attacked in the middle of the street while waiting for a ride so he could go to work, as any average American would do throughout our country. Gurcharan Singh Gill was killed while working at a local convenience store. Both tragic incidents took place in my district. My thoughts and prayers are with Amrik and his family, and my deepest sympathy and condolences go to the Gurcharan family for the loss. The attacks on these innocent American citizens are really an attack on all American citizens who choose to practice their religion and observe their cultural heritage, as Americans do throughout our land. Sadly, since September 11, 2001, the Sikh community has endured discrimination because of a lack of understanding of Sikhism, which is based on equality and love. They are not alone. As a nation of immigrants, we must remember, we have an opportunity to learn and benefit from the thousands of different cultures that are part of the mosaic of what makes America great. After all, we are a nation of immigrants, both past and present, and we must never ever forget that. Today, in Fresno, in spirit, we are all part of the Sikh community as we mourn these tragic incidents. Every American citizen, regardless of race, creed, or gender has the right to live free of fear and discrimination. I commend Chief Dyer and the Fresno City Police Department for working diligently to find the individual or individuals who killed Gurcharan and for continuing to look for the other individuals who are responsible for the attack on Amrik. I continue to urge the FBI and the U.S. Attorney General's office to work, as they have been, in making this investigation inquiry resolve itself, solving these very sad crimes that we think were based on hate and is truly an unfair and discriminatory situation that occurred in the last 2 weeks.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express the urgency to get California water legislation passed sooner rather than later. After 4 consecutive dry years, drought conditions have become even more devastating. If you look at the NASA photos that have depicted, from outer space, the drought conditions, you see over 1 million acres that have laid fallow this year. Many of us are fearful that if we receive the El Nino rains and snows that are predicted in the next 4 months, California will still not have the ability to move that water through the delta, where it is desperately needed, to other parts of the State; and many of our farm communities will continue to end up with another year of a zero--zero-- water allocation, which would make the third year in a row. This would be devastating. It is both unacceptable, and it is avoidable. Mr. Speaker, we in California can all retreat to our political corners and point fingers to lay blame, but that will not deliver an additional drop of water that is desperately needed, nor will it address the real harm done to the very people whose lives have been impacted and whose jobs have been lost. The fact is we have to work together, and I will continue to work with multiple parties involved in the negotiations to try to bridge the gap and to get California water legislation passed. It is time to fix our broken water system, and it is long overdue.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of Dr. Louis Pardini of Fresno, California, who recently passed away on November 3, 2015, at the age of 91. He leaves behind his loving family, including Alice, his wife of 65 years, their six sons, 21 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Louis Pardini was born in Daly City, California in 1924 to his parents Louis G. and Caroline Payne Pardini. Lou, as many called him, was a man dedicated to medicine and to helping others. He graduated from Saint Ignatius High School in the San Francisco bay area and went on to join the United States Army during World War II, serving as a Medical Corpsman from 1942 to 1946. After his service, Lou attended San Jose State College from 1946 to 1947, and then attended the University of San Francisco from 1947 to 1950, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. From 1950 to 1954, Lou attended Creighton University Medical School in Omaha, Nebraska, where he earned his medical degree. While attending medical school, Lou married Alice Martin in Santa Cruz, California in 1950, and together they had two sons, Louis and Patrick. After graduating, the family moved to Fresno, California where Lou participated in an internship at Fresno General Hospital from 1954 to 1955, and also served as Chief Resident. On July 1, 1958 Lou began his Internal Medicine practice where he worked until his retirement in October 2013. Among his many accomplishments, Lou was honored with the Knighthood of Saint Gregory 1965 Conferral of Pontifical Honors. Lou also served on numerous medical organizations throughout his practice and was President of the Fresno County Medical Society Review Board in 1984, and Medical Director of ValuCare Health Plan from 1985 to 1988. Further, he served as President of the medical staff for Saint Agnes Medical Center from, 1981 to 1982, and as a member of the Board of Trustees from 1987 to 1992. He was also a Quality Assurance Committee Member from 1987 to 1996 and Chairman of the Utilization Committee for five years. It goes without saying that Dr. Louis Pardini was an honorable man with a strong commitment to his family and his patients for whom he served so graciously. He helped many lives through his practice of medicine, and touched many more through his kindness and wisdom. I am honored and humbled 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 join me in honoring the life of Louis Pardini. His memory will live on through his family and be remembered by our entire community. We are all better for having known Louis Pardini, a remarkable Californian and Central Valley native.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my deepest condolences to all the individuals who have been affected in recent months by terrorist attacks throughout the world and, also, to focus on the need for America to step up and to in a more comprehensive way lead a global effort again these terrorists. My thoughts and prayers--and our thoughts and prayers as a Nation-- continue to be with the people of France, Algiers, Lebanon, and Russia, the victims and their families, who are suffering during this time. With worldwide attention and support for defeating terrorism, America has a new opportunity to draw a line in the sand and lead a global coalition. The United States, our allies, and those who oppose terrorist groups must come together on a comprehensive plan for eliminating terrorist organizations, like ISIL, al Qaeda, and all those who support terrorist activities, whether it be on the Internet or in all sorts of ways that we are discovering today. America must provide the leadership and use all of the resources at our disposal to eliminate these terrorist organizations and their supporters. I understand that the world is facing a humanitarian crisis and it is a serious problem. I think we here in the Congress all understand that our first responsibility is to protect and defend the American people from all enemies, foreign and domestic. We take an oath when we are sworn in every 2 years for that purpose. The Syrian refugees are seeking safety, and the United States has a thorough vetting process for those refugees and others. We can always improve our efforts to protect the American public while at the same time providing the very humanitarian aid that is necessary. Recent terrorist attacks have led Congress to assess the current process the United States uses to grant entry to refugees who are seeking safety from their country. These are women and children. These are innocent people who have been terribly impacted by the civil war in Syria. There are camps in Jordan with over a million and a half people, and Turkey has a similar number. Of course, we see the accounts of these refugees fleeing to Europe. What do we do? We have to respond. The legislation that passed today and the legislation that the Senate has introduced today is an effort to improve the current system. Clearly, these legislative efforts are a work in progress and they will change. To succeed, we must work closely with the President always to focus on ways that we can improve to protect American citizens because we know this, that terrorists never ever sleep. I believe the administration is doing everything it can to make absolutely certain that our efforts to provide that humanitarian support does not threaten American lives. In addition to ensuring that a strict and thorough vetting process is in place, we need to pursue comprehensive efforts that include working with our allies to end this civil war in Syria, which, as we know, is the primary source of this refugee crisis. Let's be clear. It is easy to Monday-morning-quarterback this, but there are multiple causes to the conflicts in Syria and, in essence, more than one war that is taking place. There is the civil war that is caused by Assad, but there is a proxy war between Russia and Iran against the Sunni nations. Then, of course, there is a conflict going on between Turkey and the Kurds. Then, of course, there are our collective efforts for the majority of the countries to go after ISIL and their horrific crimes. We have conflicting alliances within the multiple conflicts that are taking place within Syria today. Therefore, it is not easy as we try to sort this out in a way to put this comprehensive strategy together. If a global coalition is put in place, we can, I believe, combat this terrorism activity and bring those terrorists responsible for these horrific crimes, crimes against humanity, to justice. And we must. Let's face it. They have declared war on Western civilization and our very way of life. I know that the President is working very hard to put this comprehensive effort together. Ladies and gentlemen, Madam Speaker, this is not nor should it be a partisan issue. Every Member of Congress and the President go to bed at night, and we wake up in the morning with the safety of the American people being always our first priority. Let me repeat that. This is not a partisan issue. We all fear for a worst case scenario. Therefore, we must be working together in a bipartisan effort on any concepts of legislation that we consider with the administration, with the President to continually improve our ability to protect our American citizens. Now, it is important that we understand that this will be costly, and sacrifices will inevitably be made. Today, American men and women are in harm's way in the Middle East, serving in our military, doing their very best on multiple fronts. It is not just the sacrifices they are making, but it is the sacrifices their families are making as well. It is essential that we come together to develop and implement a long-term comprehensive plan. At the end of the day, it is the only way we will protect our freedoms and our way of life. This is what is at stake, and this is why, as we go home for the Thanksgiving recess, with our families and friends, we contemplate how we might do a better job working with the administration. As we look at this Thanksgiving week coming up, truly we have a lot to be thankful for in this Nation. We must remember as Americans, the common values that we share, the bonds that we hold most dear are far, far stronger than whatever differences we may have. Madam Speaker, I wish my colleagues here in the Congress, as we go back to our homes throughout America, a very blessed Thanksgiving with their families and friends. May God bless the United States of America, and may He grant us the guidance to work together in a more united way to solve these difficult challenges we have in front of us today, because we know, working together, all is possible. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize November as Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month. This month we recognize the contributions from Sikh Americans throughout our country who have given much to our Nation. Since the turn of the 20th century, in California's San Joaquin Valley, the Sikh Americans have come, like immigrants from all around the world, to have a better life for themselves and their families. In addition to sharing their rich culture and values, they have made countless contributions to our economy. They are farmers, business owners, physicians, and are engaged in every walk of life in so many fields. They bring distinctive pride to the many endeavors and have a very strong work ethic, like all immigrant families. Their commitment to faith, family, and hard work is part of their rich diversity that sets our country apart from others, because we welcome immigrants. After all, we are a land of immigrants. As we strive to appreciate the contributions of all religions and cultures in our Nation, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Robert ``Bob'' Loquaci, who passed away on October 31, 2015 at the age of 92. Bob was an extraordinary person, and he will always be remembered as a man who lived his life with purpose and dedication to public service. Robert ``Bob'' Loquaci was born in Madera, CA on June 1, 1923 to Urbano Loquaci and Eda Pistoresi Loquaci. He was born to be a farmer; he began farming grapes with his father as soon as he was old enough to help. Love came at a young age for Bob, who met the love of his life, Dora Karahadian, when they were both teenagers. Bob would go on to serve his nation by joining the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during the World War II. When Bob returned from his service, he married Dora. They were married for 70 years and together, they had two sons, David and Leslie, who have continued the family farming legacy. Mr. Loquaci's passion for agriculture was passed on from his father at a young age. Throughout his life, he served his farming community in different leadership positions. Bob served both as a Founding Director and President of the Raisin Bargaining Association. Mr. Loquaci represented the domestic raisin industry by testifying in Washington D.C., where President Nixon later signed a law making imported raisins meet U.S. food Safety standards. Bob also traveled twice to Japan to open the market for U.S. raisins and to promote raisins sales. Bob also served as: founding Director of the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG), Director of the Raisin Administrative Committee, was a Charter Member of the Nisei Farmers' League, and was an active member of the Western Growers Association, Madera Farm Bureau, and Madera Grange. Bob was a strong supporter of his community and was dedicated to helping those around him. He co-founded the Madera Agriculture Youth Association (MAYA) to support agricultural endeavors of local youth. He was also generous; he was an annual supporter and buyer of the Madera Junior Livestock sale. He was extremely involved, including being a Charter and Lifetime Member of the Madera Elk's Club, a Director of the Madera County Fair Board, a Trustee of La Vina School Board, a Director of the Chamber of Commerce, a member of the VFW, and he was a member of other service clubs as well. Bob lived his life to the fullest, surrounded by family and friends. His commitment to family and to his community will forever live in the lives of the people he touched. Bob is survived by his loving wife, his two son's David and his wife, Joan and by Leslie and his wife, Laddyne, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. I am honored and humbled to join his family in celebrating the life of this amazing man, who will never be forgotten. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to a man of great service and dedication. His memory will live on through his family and be remembered by our entire community. We are all better for having known Mr. Robert ``Bob'' Loquaci, a remarkable Californian and Central Valley native.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, today I rise with a heavy heart to convey my thoughts, prayers, and support for the students, the faculty, and the staff of the University of California at Merced in my district, one of the rising stars and the newest university in the University of California system. It is 11 years old, with 6,700 students. Yesterday was a very sad and unfortunate day. An incident occurred where four individuals were stabbed by a student on campus. The good news is that I am told that they will all recover, but it was a tragic act of violence. The campus was shut down. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and all those who are part of the University of California campus at Merced, a wonderful community that I am honored to represent. I am touched, but not surprised, by the courage and the bravery that the students have shown during this difficult time. I am also not surprised by the amount of community support that has come together over the last 24 hours. The university community that Chancellor Dorothy Leland and the faculty have built is a tremendous support within the Merced campus. It is very special, and I know everybody is reaching out to support everyone at this difficult time. Again, my prayers and thoughts are with the victims and their families, the faculty, the students, and the administration. We, today, are all University of California Merced Bobcats. Stay strong and courageous. We are all with you. God bless.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, next week Americans throughout the country will celebrate Veterans Day. In cities and towns and hamlets, which all of us come from, we will take the time to thank and to honor those men and women who have served our Nation so nobly, to protect our freedoms and to keep this country safe, safe from all harm, foreign and domestic. Americans take a great deal of pride in their service to our country, and we must also remember those men and women who are today serving in Active Duty in harm's way throughout the world. I want to take this opportunity to honor two veterans who passed away this last September, who I worked with closely and who were community leaders, Charlie Waters and Earl Watson, both gentlemen who exemplified what is the best and the brightest our Nation has to offer. Earl Watson, or as many like to call him, ``Earl, the Pearl,'' was a World War II veteran. After the war, he moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as a doorman in the famous Hotel Knickerbocker. During a difficult time in our Nation's history, during World War II, when segregation was still in many places the law of the land, Earl was most proud that he could serve his Nation. He wrote a biography titled ``Earl `The Pearl' Watson: Doorman to the Stars.'' But what he was most proud of was his service to our Nation. Earl loved people. He had a big smile, a friendly demeanor, and an eagerness to help those in need. Anytime a veteran ever came to him or a veterans organization had a problem, he was there to be helpful. Earl told me, when we were able to retrieve his medals that he had earned during his service to our country, that the proudest moment of all the many things he had done in his life was his service to our country. Earl is survived by his wife of 71 years, Melba; his children, Alan and Coleen; and grandchildren, Eric, Ashley, and Jonathan, who he was so, so very proud of. Another veterans' advocate who we all miss in the San Joaquin Valley is Charlie Waters, who served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean war. Charlie, as he was affectionately known by all, never ever stopped fighting on behalf of veterans. I worked closely with him for many years, from working to get recognition for Hmong veterans to advocating for the funding of the opening of the veterans home that we successfully did that provides residence to those who deserve it. As a matter of fact, in Charlie's last days, he was able to stay there. He was a true champion of veterans not only throughout the Valley, but the Nation. But he did not stop there: supporting the Veterans Administration Hospital in Fresno and providing support for their efforts; organizing and helping continue the Veterans Day parade, which is one of the largest veterans parades in the entire nation that is shown on Armed Services Television; and individuals. No problem was too big or too small, as long as a veteran was there who needed Charlie's help. Therefore, we miss both Charlie and Earl very much for all that they have done and all that they exemplified in terms of honor, duty, and service to country. Charlie is survived by his wife, Cathy; and children, Charlie Waters, III, Karen, and Jennifer. Mr. Speaker, we want to take this time to recognize those leaders, those leaders who made a difference during their lives in serving our country. They are both shining examples of those who always--always-- cared first and foremost for our Nation. As we celebrate Veterans Day next week around the country, in towns and hamlets and cities throughout the Nation, we should think about all these veterans. We should think about the men and women who have served our Nation today in Active Duty. Never ever forget to say thank you for their service to a grateful Nation.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of Daniel R. Jensen. As president of DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, Dan Jensen has been responsible for overseeing lodging, food service, retail, transportation and guest services for Yosemite's 4+ million visitors each year. Representing the single largest concession contract in the National Park System, the Yosemite operation includes such diverse locations as The Ahwahnee and the High Sierra Camps, and activities from Nordic and downhill skiing at Badger Pass to interpretative services. Dan returned to Yosemite in 2006 after having worked for Yosemite Park & Curry Co. from 1979 to 1992. In addition to his 22 years of Yosemite experience, he has served as a consultant/owner engaged in development of themed concepts domestically and internationally. He also has an extensive career in theme parks, serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Universal Studios Japan. Prior to joining Universal Studios Japan, Dan served as Executive Vice President of Universal Orlando. Dan began his career with Price Waterhouse, headquartered in Los Angeles, where he had a large number of Fortune 500 clients and spent part of his career in South Africa. Dan holds an MBA from UCLA and a BA in Economics from UC Riverside, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He is on the Board of Trustees and the Council of the Yosemite Conservancy, president of the Yosemite/Mariposa Tourism Bureau, a member of the UC Merced Board of Trustees, an active supporter of NatureBridge and a frequent participant in board meetings and other activities and a member of numerous partner groups in support of Yosemite. Dan and his wife Suzanne were born and raised in the central California town of Visalia. They have a lifelong attachment to Yosemite that they share with their two children, having raised them in Yosemite before moving to Orlando, FL in 1992. Dan's enthusiasm for Yosemite has been a recurring theme throughout his career and his interest in park challenges insures an insightful and compassionate voice on issues affecting Yosemite's visitors and the people who serve them. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Daniel R. Jensen in the celebration of his hard work and achievements. It is with great pride that I thank him for his service and lasting contributions to Yosemite National Park.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the work and celebrate the achievements of United States Poet Laureate, Juan Felipe Herrera. Mr. Herrera is a California native and the first Latino in history to become a Poet Laureate. He took up his duties of Poet Laureate this fall by opening Hispanic Heritage Month at the Library of Congress with a reading of one of his works. Mr. Herrera succeeds Charles Wright as the 21st Poet Laureate and joins a long line of distinguished poets who have served in the position, including the late Philip Levine who was a Fresno native and former professor at the California State University, Fresno. Mr. Herrera was previously appointed as California Poet Laureate by Governor Jerry Brown and served from 2012-2015. Born in Fowler, California in 1948 to migrant farmworker parents, Mr. Herrera spent his early life living in tents and trailers with his family throughout the San Joaquin Valley and the Salinas Valley following the seasonal crops. His experience as a campesino has strongly influenced his works. Traveling from the San Joaquin Valley to San Diego's Logan Heights and San Francisco's Mission District gave him three distinct California experiences, which is where he draws his inspiration from. Growing up in the '60s and attending college in the '70s during the Chicano Movement inspired Mr. Herrera and his writing style, which fuses wide-ranging experimentalism with reflections on Mexican-American identity. Mr. Herrera graduated from San Diego High School in 1967 and was one of the first waves of Latinos to receive the Educational Opportunity Program scholarship to attend the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He received a Bachelor's degree in Social Anthropology from UCLA, a Master's degree in Social Anthropology from Stanford University, and a Master's of Fine Arts degree at the University of Iowa Writer's Workshop. He has worked as a poet for over 40 years throughout California at various colleges, universities, migrant camps, continuation high schools, juvenile halls, and prisons. Among his many works Mr. Herrera is the author of 28 books of poetry, novels for young adults, and collections for children. He published his first collection of poems, Rebozos of Love in 1974 and some of his subsequent work includes Exiles of Desire (1985), Border-Crosser with a Lamorghini Dream (1999), and Senegal Taxi (2013). Mr. Herrera has also published 11 young adult and children's books, including The Upside Down Boy (2000), which was adopted into a musical and most recently Portraits of Hispanic American Heroes (2014), a picture book showcasing inspiring Hispanic and Latino Americans. Mr. Herrera's honors include fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, two Latino Hall of Fame Poetry Awards, and a PEN Open Book Award. He has also received the PEN USA National Poetry Award, PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Award, two Americas Awards, two Pura Belpre Author Honor Awards, the Independent Publisher Book Award, the Ezra Jack Keats Award, and fellowships from the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference and the Stanford University Chicano Fellows. Among his writing and social activism, Mr. Herrera also served as Chancellor for the Academy of American Poets in 2011. He has served as the Chair of the Chicano and Latin American Studies Department at California State University, Fresno, and also held the Tomas Rivera Endowed Chair in the Creative Writing Department at the University of California, Riverside, where he taught until retiring in 2015. Since his retirement, Mr. Herrera has become a visiting professor in the Department of American Ethnic Studies at the University of Washington-Seattle. He currently resides in Fresno, with his five children and his partner, fellow poet, and performance artist, Margarita Robles. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me as we honor and celebrate Juan Felipe Herrera for his dedication to poetry, his community, and education.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. John Navarrette as he celebrates 31 years of service to the County of Fresno. Mr. Navarrette will be retiring as the Chief Administrative Officer of Fresno County, a position that he has served in for the last six and a half years of his career. John's extraordinary career and service to the County of Fresno deserves to be honored. John was born and raised in Mendota, California. He attended Mendota Unified schools including Tranquility High School, and graduated from California State University, Fresno in his early twenties. Throughout his career, John has achieved a multitude of goals while working in government. He started his career with the County of Fresno in 1985 as an entry level staff analyst. John subsequently went to work in Sacramento for the California State Legislature in 1997, retaining a position in the Speaker's Office. One of his early achievements was obtaining funds for City and County parks, as well as the now infamous bookmobile. In 1999, Mr. Navarrette got a job in the Lieutenant Governor's office. During his time there, he managed special projects and economic development trade missions to Mexico and Italy. In 2003, returned to his roots in California's Central Valley and went back to work for the County of Fresno, becoming the Director of General Services in 2004. As previously mentioned, the last six and a half years, John has served as the County Administrative Officer, and led 5,000 Fresno County employees towards solving many of the community's issues. He was able to form a senior team that showed drive and dedication, and his extensive experience in government has allowed him to implement policies in an effective manner. John's tenacity and willingness to work hard got him where he is today. His leadership skills allowed him to lead Fresno County during one of the most difficult times his community has ever experienced. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Mr. John Navarrette for the contributions he has made to the State of California and County of Fresno. His dedication to our community is inspiring and deserving of recognition.