Jim Costa

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. Mr. Chairman, as my colleague mentioned, this amendment updates the bill to be consistent with the memorandum of understanding between the Bureau of Reclamation and the Sites Joint Powers Authority. As has been noted by speakers on both sides, California last year came together, in a bipartisan, overwhelming way, to provide $7.5 billion for improving our water system to provide more funding for the tools in our water toolbox to provide greater reliability throughout California; $2.7 billion of that water bond measure was set aside for water storage projects. This is one of the projects that can participate in that funding. I support this effort because increased storage capacity--both surface, as well as groundwater recharge--is absolutely necessary to provide the additional resiliency and reliability in California's water system. I support the construction of Sites Reservoir, working in conjunction with increasing the supply of Shasta Reservoir, by increasing that dam, would provide additional water supply, as well as Temperance Flat, as well as the expansion of Los Vaqueros, which is underway by the Contra Costa Water District, as well as the expansion of San Luis Reservoir, which is allowed for in this legislation, as well as increased groundwater banking. All of these are part of the solution. We must expand the storage in the State to reduce the impacts of future droughts and the population growth; therefore, I support this amendment.

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, this is a very legitimate concern that my colleagues are dealing with in terms of how funds are being spent by the restoration programs and how we provide support for the efforts to provide more accountability and improve the transparency of the expenditures of the fund. I appreciate and support my colleague's amendment to improve the makeup of the advisory board, which I think is important. However, I think that adding one more waterfowl representative needs to be done to try to provide additional balance in terms of the representation of the various interests on the board. Let me finally say I represent Grasslands, a large part of Grasslands district, which is the largest part of the Pacific Flyway in terms of almost 200,000 acres of contiguous wetlands, and they have raised some issues as relates to this legislation, and we are going to work those out because, in fact, that is a very important part of the Pacific Flyway. In addition to that, the flexibility that we create in the underlying bill really is, in part, to ensure that we do provide water, even the limited water available, so that we can maintain this important habitat.

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Chairman, I rise for an amendment that is before the desk.

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Chair, and the ranking member, since the early 1990s, the Federal and State lawmakers and regulators have made a number of policy choices to implement the Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act and the Central Valley Project Improvement Act. All of these have had good intentions. From the Trinity River, to the Shasta Reservoir, to the San Francisco Bay Delta, and up to the San Joaquin River, about 3.5 million acre-feet of Central Valley Project and California State Water Project have been as a result of those acts rededicated for environmental management purposes. The Central Valley Project Improvement Act alone, since its enactment, has resulted in over 17 million acre-feet of water being reprioritized for different needs and for different purposes. It is important to note that this doesn't mean that the water, in reprioritization, doesn't continue to serve multiple purposes within the system because it does; but it does mean that the use has been prioritized so that, in fact, it must meet environmental objectives over that of human needs, which are a distant second to the environmental uses of this water as a result of the passage of those previous acts. These changes, I believe, have harmed a large number of Californians, including those from small, rural, and often disadvantaged communities that I represent, as well as to the larger areas that are dependent upon this water supply, whether we talk about Santa Clara in Silicon Valley or Los Angeles, in the metropolitan water district. Approximately 25 million people and 7 of the Nation's top 10 agricultural counties have seen their water supply diminish and their water cost escalate over the last 20 years; that is a fact, and as my colleagues say, facts are hard to dispute. The increased cost has been there, and the reduction of the water supply is, in fact, a result of this. Many of the farmers I serve have seen their water supplies diminish to 40 percent--40 percent--of their long-term average and have received no surface water--no surface water--for the last 2 years. Communities that I have represented have had their drinking wells go dry, leaving entire towns without a water supply for drinking or bathing. These are incredibly harmful impacts to a very simple question. We ought to know the benefits. Has society benefited from the policy changes to dedicate the water for these important environmental purposes, like preventing the extinction of species, which none of us want to do? The answer, I am sad to say, is it seems to have had not the impact that was intended because the species continue to decline. Unfortunately, though, notwithstanding efforts within the Federal agencies, the State agencies, and the National Academy of Sciences, we don't really know. We don't really know because we don't have an accurate reporting or accounting of how end-stream flows are used and what benefit is expected to be achieved by them and whether the benefit was achieved by those flows. I would certainly feel a little better knowing that we are increasing the species, the salmonoid in California, notwithstanding the loss of water. In fact, the salmonoid have continued to decline. The dedication of millions of acre-feet of water and the expenditure of billions of dollars has resulted in a water supply situation that has never been worse for all of California. Likewise, the condition of the species to which we have dedicated so much has never been so much at risk. The latest delta smelt population index is zero, and the status of protected salmon is in serious doubt. While the extinction of these species isn't probable, given the hatchery-based fish populations, the potential loss of wild populations is of grave concern to all of us. One thing that the drought has achieved to make operational priorities of the project abundantly clear is that the first priority of the projects, besides this cosharing, is flood control. God, I would pray that it would flood in California. I would love to have what they are having in Texas. The second priority is followed by salmon temperature management, which is very problematic right now as a result of this drought. This is followed by protecting the bay-delta water quality--people ought to have good water quality; I want my friends in the bay area to drink good, fresh water--and, finally, any possible deliveries to the communities for the refuge wildlife, which I spoke to a moment ago, that includes grasslands and other refuges, as well as our farms, our farms that produce the food. I am introducing this amendment to create at least some accountability and transparency in the environmental management efforts underway so that we can better understand and so we can measure what is working and what isn't working. That is why this amendment is important. I ask that it be adopted for all the reasons that I have stated. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to stress the importance of reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank's charter, which has served this Nation well. The Export-Import Bank is an important program used to support our Nation's entrepreneurs--the best in the world--and keep them competitive in today's global economy. It is a tool. It is a tool that has enjoyed bipartisan support over the years, just like trade agreements are a tool to, in fact, increase jobs here in America, good-paying jobs. The Bank provides trade financing to solutions to boost U.S. job growth, and it has been successful in increasing exports for American goods and services--American goods that are made here--at no cost--no cost--to the American taxpayer. This program is set to expire, sadly, tomorrow--tomorrow. Unfortunately, the House Republican leadership is refusing to bring it to the floor for a vote, with thousands of American jobs at risk. Now, if the Bank charter expires, American workers and American businesses that are trying to sell their products and goods overseas face a completely unnecessary blow to their ability to compete. In total, the Ex-Im Bank--otherwise known, abbreviated--has created and sustained over 1.5 million jobs in the private sector since 2007 alone--1.5 million jobs since 2007. Last year alone, the Bank sustained over 164,000 export-related American good-paying jobs. If you want to build it in America, you have got to ensure that American workers and businesses can compete. The Ex-Im Bank represents a vital pillar, therefore, in our ability to be competitive overseas, and it has had significant impacts in the San Joaquin Valley that I represent. Why? Well, many of the businesses that I talk to that use the Ex-Im Bank tell me: Jim, we have the ability to compete. We make our products better, but when we are sitting at the table with foreign competitors, many of these countries want to know, do you have a financing plan in place? It is because, contingent upon their ability to choose us or choose our competitors, many of these countries want to know that this can be financially put together in a fashion so that the deal works for everybody, and that is what the Bank does. In my district alone, the Ex-Im Bank has afforded a number of small business exporters--some of which are minority and women owned--to have exports in places all over the world, places like India, Mexico, Turkey, Hong Kong; and I could go on. These businesses export $77 million worth of goods, ranging from machinery to manufacturing to crop production of the variety and diversity of agricultural exports that we do in California. As a matter of fact, in California, the Ex-Im Bank has resulted in increased exports of over $27 billion. Now, let's put this in perspective. Last year, California exported $174 billion in products. The Ex-Im Bank was responsible for helping to finance $27 billion of that $174 billion. As a matter of fact, $19.4 billion of the $174 billion that was exported last year from California were agricultural products grown in the San Joaquin Valley. The Bank helps level the playing field, therefore, for American workers and American businesses, allowing them to compete and succeed in the global economy that we live in today. That is just the facts. In these trying times, the last thing Congress should be doing is jeopardizing the economic health of our Nation by refusing to provide Americans with the tools--the tools, which is what this Bank is--they need to compete effectively in the global marketplace. It is important to note that there is a vast bipartisan support for renewing the Bank's charter. Let me be clear. Despite attempts to paint this as a partisan issue, I do not believe it is. Sadly, though, there are some of my colleagues on the other side who have decided to play partisan politics with the Bank. That, then, therefore threatens American jobs, halting economic growth and undermining American businesses' ability of all sizes to compete in this global market. Now is the time for long-term reauthorization of the Bank so that American entrepreneurs can use this tool to create more jobs in our country. This can only happen with bipartisan support. I stand and ask my colleagues to reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank on behalf of American workers and American businesses.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on the importance of continuing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, otherwise known as DACA. This week marks the third anniversary of this action, DACA, an initiative that brings hundreds of thousands of aspiring, young Americans who were brought to the U.S. as children, through no fault of their own, out of the shadows. These individuals want to work hard for a chance at the American Dream without fear of being torn away from their families. They want to be productive and contributing members of society. This program has allowed a segment of our population who are already a part of the American fabric to keep using their talents to move our country forward. They are an integral part of our society already. The bottom line is: we need a long-term fix for our broken immigration system. We need comprehensive immigration reform and an act of Congress, which is the only way we can currently fix this failing system. Now is the time for bipartisan, humane, permanent, comprehensive immigration reform. It is time we take action.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express the importance of investing in our Nation's infrastructure. This is all about the future economy of this Nation and jobs, jobs, and jobs. Today, we are living off the investments that our parents and our grandparents made generations ago. Let me give you an example of what we are trying to do in California. A high-speed rail project is a great example of how you invest in the future. This project in California will create 20,000 jobs annually for the next 5 years, a fact important not only to California, but my district, which is economically challenged. Workforce investment boards in my district and throughout the valley have dedicated resources to making sure that the local workforce is ready to build. Apprenticeship programs like these connect disadvantaged workers with good-paying jobs and boost the valley's economy. The California high-speed rail project, which combines Federal, State, and private sector investments, will ensure that our State transportation infrastructure is fit for the 21st century. Here in our Nation's Capital, we need to provide the long-term funding for infrastructure across the Nation. That is what we need to do: to invest in our water projects and invest in our transportation projects. That is what we need for jobs in the 21st century.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Anthony Dominic ``Tony'' Giannetta, who passed away on May 30, 2015, at the age of 94. As the founder of Hallmark Homes, Tony helped expand the California home building industry and devoted much of his life to maintaining it. His kind heart, talent, and contributions to the Central Valley will be greatly missed. Tony was born on November 7, 1920, in Fresno, California. Raised in Fresno, Tony graduated from Edison High School. He married Alice Therese Baraldi on November 22, 1942, and shortly thereafter the two moved to Marysville, CA, to fulfill Tony's duties in the United States Army. After the war the couple moved back to Fresno, where they settled and raised six sons. During the late 1940's, Tony began his career in the home building industry as a carpenter. In 1951 Tony and John Mortillaro formed the Quality Homes Construction Company, which merged with the Cetti Brothers Construction Company a year later. Under the Hallmark Homes name, the company developed 27 subdivisions and built more than 4,500 homes in the Fresno, Clovis, and Madera areas, in addition to the construction of many commercial projects. This made Hallmark Homes one of the largest regional builders for three decades, and it marked the association of the name Tony Giannetta within the home building industry. In fact, the two became synonymous in Fresno. Tony was a member of the Building Industry Association of the San Joaquin Valley, and served as president in 1967, 1979, and 1980. He acted as a Director to the California Building Industry Association and was a life director to the National Association of Homebuilders who on February 15, 2008 acknowledged him as a 50 year member, and he served on various committees for the California Building Industry Association including its Legislative Committee, Executive Committee, Insurance Committee, and Long Range Planning Committee. As a Fresno native, maintaining community involvement was important to Tony. In partnership with the Construction Department at Fresno City College, Tony provided work experience training for students in the building industry. He was also instrumental in creating the National Association of Home Builders-Building Industry Association student chapters at Fresno City College and California State University, Fresno. For his contributions to homebuilding and its community, Tony became a lifetime member of the Building Industry Association of the San Joaquin Valley in 1986 and was inducted into the California Housing Foundation Hall of Fame in 1988--the first inductee to come from the Central Valley. He was also awarded the Oscar Spano Lifetime Service Award in 1988 by his local building industry association. In his spare time, Tony enjoyed traveling, playing sports and cherished his time with family and friends. He was a devoted husband to Alice, his bride of 72 years; a loving father to his sons, Gerald, Ronald, Anthony Jr., James, Michael and John; and the kind and generous grandfather of 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Tony's favorite memories included celebrating the holidays in his home as well as gathering for Sunday pasta lunches, a tradition he shared with his family. 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 Anthony Dominic ``Tony'' Giannetta, a Central Valley pioneer and influential figure in the California home building industry.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues Mr. Nunes and Mr. Valadao to recognize the career of a distinguished Portuguese politician, and an old friend, Joao Bosco Mota Amaral. Mota Amaral, former President of the Autonomous Regional Government of the Azores, has devoted his life to serving the Azores and the Portuguese people. He deserves to be commended for his tireless work and service towards the advancement of Azorean and Portuguese interests. Mota Amaral was born on April 15, 1943 in Ponta Delgada on the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores. He was a very diligent and studious individual, and graduated from the University of Lisbon in 1965 with a law degree. He also completed, with distinction, the Complementary Course of Political and Economic Sciences at the University of Lisbon in 1966, defending his thesis on the topic ``Civil Liability of Public Administration.'' Mota Amaral practiced law in Lisbon in the late 1960's, where he specialized in administrative and tax issues. He was then elected as Deputy to the National Assembly in 1969 and he championed issues important to the Azores. Following the Carnation Revolution of April 25, 1974, in which the authoritarian Estado Novo regime was overthrown, Mota Amaral emerged as a new political leader. He helped establish the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) later named the Social Democratic Party (PSD) in the Azores. Shortly after the creation of the PPD, the question of autonomy for the Azores was outlined in the Party's principles. On November 8, 1974 Mota Amaral presented the Politico-Administrative Statute of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, lobbying for the archipelago to become an autonomous region within the context of the Portuguese Republic and governed by a Regional Assembly with elected members. This dream would come to fruition on April 2, 1976 when the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic was approved and the Azores achieved political autonomy. Mota Amaral was elected to Parliament in 1976, but suspended the mandate in order to serve as the first President of the Government of the Azores. He subsequently won four more regional elections and served until 1995. Between 1995 and 2002, Mota Amaral served as the Vice- President of the National Assembly. In 2002, he was elected President of the National Assembly, a position he held until 2005. Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that Mr. Nunes, Mr. Valadao and I ask our colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to recognize and honor the accomplishments of a great servant to the Azores and Portugal. Joao Bosco Mota Amaral has truly left a mark on the Azorean and Portuguese communities here in the U.S. and around the world, and we owe him our thanks and praise for advancing Azorean and Portuguese interests.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues Mr. Valadao of California, Mr. Cicilline of Rhode Island, Mr. Nunes of California, Mr. Langevin of Rhode Island, Mr. McGovern of Massachusetts, Mr. Keating of Massachusetts, and Mr. Honda of California to recognize Dia de Portugal and to champion the strong bond between the United States and Portugal. Celebrated on June 10 each year, Dia de Portugal recognizes Portugal's beautiful heritage and culture. Dia de Portugal honors the death of the revered Portuguese poet Luis Vaz de Camoes in 1580. Camoes is famously known for Os Lusiadas, one of Portugal's most treasured literary works. The poem pays tribute to Portugal's golden age of exploration and celebrates the many monumental discoveries made by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century. Vibrant Portuguese American communities can be seen across our nation from Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island, to California and Hawaii. These communities are filled with over 1.3 million Americans of Portuguese descent who have been making positive contributions to our society for generations. We are a nation of immigrants, and celebrations like Dia de Portugal remind us all that it is important to remain connected to our own individual heritage. The United States and Portugal maintain a robust relationship, and have been connected ever since the Portuguese were among the first to recognize the U.S. as an independent nation at the conclusion of the Revolutionary War. President George Washington formalized diplomatic relations on February 21, 1791, and our oldest continuously-operated U.S. Consulate in the world is located in Ponta Delgada on the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores. Mr. Speaker, on this Dia de Portugal, we are reminded that our special relationship with Portugal must be continuously strengthened. As U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has said, ``The strong partnership between our two countries is more vital than ever.'' This day celebrates the accomplishments of Portuguese and Portuguese Americans, and we congratulate these communities on their global impact and achievement.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. The bottom line is, we don't want to see any retaliatory efforts made by Canada and Mexico, and I don't think they want to impose them. This bill is our only option right now to satisfy the WTO compliance. In addition, as has been noted, the Secretary of Agriculture has stated a legislative fix is required to resolve this problem. So I urge my colleagues to vote for this measure, and let's take action. And the Senate will need to then act, and then we have a chance to come together and fix this legislation.

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure to repeal the country of origin labeling. I want to thank the chairman for bringing this measure up. I also want to thank the ranking member always for his efforts to be balanced and to try to solve problems. But I have been saying--and he and I disagree on this measure--for years that this country of origin labeling has simply not worked. So I am pleased that we are here today to debate the legislation that, in fact, repeals the country of origin labeling for beef, pork, and chicken products. Hopefully we can move on to figure out a solution to this problem. That said, let's be clear: I want to emphasize, this measure has nothing to do with food safety. Let me repeat. It has nothing to do with food safety. The inspection process by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration remains in place for all consumable products that the American public eats. So what this has to do with is simply about how we market beef, pork, or chicken across the country. Going further, to ensure that we act on this measure, we do not want to have to deal with a devastating blow to our economy through economic retaliation. Last month, as has been noted by my colleagues, the World Trade Organization rejected the United States appeal. This was our last and final appeal. And for many of us, we felt it was predictable. We now face harsh trade retaliations from two of our largest export markets, Canada and Mexico, against products that are produced in America. This especially impacts California, the number one agricultural State in the Nation. The Canadian Government has already published its list of commodities that will be subject to tariff increases and estimates the impact could reach in excess of $3 million, with the direct effect in California being over $1 billion. This is real. They prepared the list, and it could be implemented as early as this fall. For example, Canada imports 90 percent of its table wine from my home State of California. If the tariff is increased to 100 percent, that will mean customers in Canada will have to pay double for a bottle of good California wine. If consumers in Canada see that price double, I suspect they are going to buy their wine elsewhere. This will be detrimental to U.S. trade, as an example, but to all products that are produced in America.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. COSTA. As I was saying, Mr. Chairman, the fact is that the State has changed a great deal to present day. The current water system is unable to meet the demands under the current restrictions that are required under the Endangered Species Act to maintain and to try to increase the population of salmonoid and steelhead. We have determined, as my colleague and friend from California stated, that these fish, these predator fish, are responsible for a large amount of the takings of both the native California salmon and steelhead, and yet we have no program to balance this. What this amendment would do is it simply requires that for a recovery plan to be effective, it must incorporate and address all factors involved in species recovery, those of particularly high concern. Some of the studies have indicated on the Sacramento River over 95 percent of the juvenile salmon and steelhead are eaten by these predator striped bass, these nonnative fish and other invasive species. This amendment ensures that the recovery plan for endangered salmon and steelhead takes these factors into account, including the predation by the nonnative species such as striped bass. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment of the gentleman from California.

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the gentlemen from California and from Pennsylvania for allowing me this time, and the gentleman from California for offering this important amendment. Let me give a little perspective here. Clearly, everyone is aware of the disastrous drought that is having catastrophic impacts in California, not only in the San Joaquin Valley but throughout the State. There are a number of factors that have caused the challenges that we face with a lack of water in California. Obviously, it hasn't rained very much or snowed very much in the mountains for 4 years. In addition to that, we have a broken water system in the sense that, designed in the fifties and the sixties, both the Federal and State water projects, for a State of 20 million people, today we have 38 million people, and we have a lot of demands not only for the use of agriculture, but for people in our cities and for the environment. Mr. Chairman, this amendment relates to our requirements under the law to protect the environment, those endangered species, salmonoid and steelhead that are native to California. What happened is some 100 years ago, before we had a better understanding and before California was a much bigger State, there was the introduction of striped bass from the East Coast, bound from the Gulf of Saint Lawrence Seaway all the way down to Alabama. These are native fish on the East Coast, but they were not native to California. They were introduced in a small number but became very successful in propagation, so much so that in the early 1900s, after 10 years of introduction, over 1 million pounds a year was being harvested of these nonnative striped bass fish in the San Francisco Bay-San Joaquin- Sacramento-Delta River systems.

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Chairman, the description of the amendment, as we understand it, prohibits the use of these funds that contravene section 642 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. The facts are that the States and localities around the country that have adopted laws and policies to limit immigration enforcement by law enforcement are focused on protecting public safety. We have this in California. We have it in many border States. There is a level of cooperation that does take place between local law enforcement agencies as well as our Federal enforcement officers. Surely, we don't believe it is good public policy to force an unwanted role upon police through the threat of sanctions, which is what this amendment does, or withholding police funding. Frankly, if you believe in Federalism and if you believe in that relationship between local, State, and Federal Government, this is really top-down and I think runs contrary to the notion that law enforcement agencies at all levels collaborate and cooperate. Holding this sort of a sword of Damocles, so to speak, over the head of local law enforcement agencies simply, I think, is not good public policy. In an op-ed piece that was published in Roll Call last year, the police chief of Dayton, Ohio, explained why his department instructs its officers not to check the immigration status of witnesses and victims or to question their status in minor traffic stops. He says: These policies allow us to focus our limited resources on our primary mission, which is crime solving and community safety. We know that local law enforcement agencies are clearly stretched very thin across the country. They also said victims of crimes should never be afraid to reach out for help due to the fear of immigration consequences because, notwithstanding the fact of their status, crimes are perpetrated upon these people as well. Since Dayton adopted these policies and innovative ways of addressing crime problems, their crime rates have significantly declined; and, in the past 3 years, serious crime has declined nearly 22 percent, while serious property crime has gone down 15 percent. It is simply, we believe, perverse to punish communities that want to prioritize because they know best what their challenges are within their communities to protect the public against crime and to enact community-based policing activities. To deny them this funding through this threat of the SCAAP funds simply is, we believe, inappropriate. Finally, I think that this amendment focuses on a problem that doesn't exist. With those statements, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize two exemplary high schools in my district: Le Grand Union High School and Dos Palos High School. In California's San Joaquin Valley, one of the most economically challenged regions of the Nation, having access to a quality education is critical for our young people, and these two schools shine on both the State and national levels. Recently, both Le Grand and Dos Palos were acknowledged by the U.S. News & World Report's annual grading as among the top high schools in America. Not only are Le Grand High School and Dos Palos among the best in Merced County, but they both ranked among the top five high schools in our region. Their accomplishments show how our students, with the right encouragement and support, in fact, can succeed. Students, regardless of their socioeconomic status or being college bound, deserve a quality education that prepares them for the road ahead. And both Le Grand and Dos Palos High Schools are doing just that. Mr. Speaker, 81 percent of the students at Le Grand High School and 97 percent of the students at Dos Palos High School qualify as low- income. These are challenging and difficult areas. I am proud to say that, at both Le Grand High School and Dos Palos, approximately half of all enrollees are in AP classes and taking the end-of-year test for college credit. Now, what does that mean? It means that every day these students are actively seizing opportunities to change their lives for the better, and for that, we are glad. Mr. Speaker, when our students succeed, our Nation succeeds because, after all, they are the future of America. The great success of these students would not be possible without the amazing support of both the faculty and the staff at both high schools. These are the teachers and educators who see promise in our students and inspire them to follow their dreams and progress, teachers who have dedicated their professional careers to public education in America. To Le Grand Union High School Principal Javier Martinez, the Le Grand Union High School faculty and staff, their board of directors, and the Le Grand student body, job well done. To the Dos Palos High School Principal Heather Ruiz, the Dos Palos High School faculty and staff, the Dos Palos-Oro Loma School District Board of Trustees, and to that student body, again, a job well done. Let me take this opportunity to say a big thank-you to all of you, and congratulations in achieving the Silver Medal Award given annually by the U.S. News & World Report. Your collective academic achievement is a source of pride not only in our community, but throughout the Nation. Most importantly, all of you are making a difference, making a difference for our students. Thank you for setting the example, and thank you for the difference you are making in their lives. It is an honor and a privilege to represent you, and keep up the good work.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and career of a local Fresno icon, Bruce Farris, who passed away on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at the age of 88. Bruce was born on March 25, 1927, in Coldwater, Michigan, to Ross and Ruth Farris. At the age of four, with the Great Depression limiting jobs, the family gathered their belonging and drove to California in their Hudson Essex automobile. They settled in Reedley and three years later moved to Fresno. There, Bruce attended Daily Elementary School, Hamilton Junior High, and graduated from Fresno High School in 1945. At Fresno High, Bruce played baseball, basketball, and most importantly, during his senior year, he wrote for the Fresno High Owl. Following high school, Bruce attended Fresno State College for two years where he played basketball and wrote for the Daily Collegian as a reporter and an editor. After college, he worked for the Fresno Guide and the St. Louis Cardinals organization. At the age of 21, he was hired by the Fresno Bee. His career began by reporting on Fresno State athletics, and later expanded to a broader range of sporting events. What distinguished Mr. Farris from other reporters, and what made his career so impressive, was his enthusiasm for his job and his love for all sports. Additionally, Mr. Farris was unbiased and fair, making it a point to report objectively. While working at the Fresno Bee, Bruce worked with a secretary named Barbara Harper, whom he married in 1955. Bruce and Barbara had three children, Greg, Nancy, and Sandra. They raised their children in a home on First Street, and opened their door to many, from people from church, to neighborhood kids, and friends, relatives, and foreign exchange students. Everyone was welcome in their home at any time. In 1997, Mr. Farris was inducted into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame after decades of covering Fresno State athletics. Afterwards, Mr. Farris went on to report for the Fresno Bee as the newspaper's outdoors and golf writer. He worked at the Fresno Bee for 23 years before retiring in December 2002. Bruce had a truly amazing 52 year long career. According to his daughter Nancy, Mr. Farris was defined by his faith, love of family, and love of sports, three things which led him to be such a great man. Mr. Farris' loss is heartbreaking for Fresno, and his passing will be felt by the many friends that he has gained throughout the years. Everyone that knew Mr. Farris describes him as a kind man who truly cared for others, and who was respected by everyone who had the honor of knowing him. Mr. Farris' wife, Barbara, died in 2007. He is survived by his one son, Greg, two daughters, Nancy and Sandra, nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild on the way. Mr. Speaker, it is with the utmost respect that I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the wonderful life and distinguished career of Bruce Farris. Mr. Farris' passing is a loss to our community. While his presence will be greatly missed, his legacy will continue through his writing.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. In addition, Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the service of Hmong and Lao Americans who fought for the United States during the Vietnam war. The Central Intelligence Agency in the 1960s covertly trained Hmong men and women in Laos, and the Hmong special guerilla unit was formed, otherwise known as the SGU. They directed them in the compact to support U.S. forces. These indigenous forces conducted direct missions against communists, fighting side-by-side American soldiers and saving countless American lives. That is why President Ford, in 1975, signed an executive order granting these Hmong soldiers and their families the ability to gain access as permanent residents for their service to our country if they could make it to America, and many of them did. More than 100,000 Hmong soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice. Today, approximately 6,000 of those veterans are still with us. To honor and to recognize the service of these brave veterans, the gentleman from California, Congressman Paul Cook, and I will be reintroducing a bipartisan piece of legislation, the Hmong Veterans' Service Recognition Act. This legislation would allow the burial of these Hmong veterans who live here today and their families in national cemeteries, like the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Merced County. This recognition is long overdue. We granted it to Filipino soldiers who fought side-by-side with American soldiers in World War II. I hope my colleagues will support this legislation to ensure that those Hmong veterans and their families receive the proper recognition by providing them the burial rights that they have earned. Again, it is long overdue. There are less than 6,000 of them that are still alive today in America. I think it is appropriate that we finally honor them.

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, last night, America witnessed a tragic accident that occurred when the Amtrak train going from Washington, D.C., to New York derailed outside of Philadelphia. We mourn the loss of lives and those that were injured, and our thoughts and prayers go to the families who were involved in that tragic accident last night. And while we do not know the cause of that accident, we do know that America desperately needs to invest in its infrastructure. Yes, this week is National Infrastructure Week, and we have 6 legislative days left to fund America's national transportation system--6 days. For 2 years, we have been kicking this can down the road, and I suspect we will find some temporary means of funding before the end of this month. However, America needs a long-term means of investing in its infrastructure, a long-term means that will allow for 5 years of planning for investments in our roads, our bridges, in our transit systems, in our railway systems, and in our water infrastructure. We are experiencing a terrible drought out in California, and it is long overdue that we invest in California and in America's water systems. So as we acknowledge this week being National Infrastructure Week, it is important that we remember that it is long overdue that Congress come together in a bipartisan fashion to provide long-term funding that will allow long-term planning to provide the same kinds of investments that our parents and our grandparents made in this country years ago that we are living off of today. The Hmong Veterans' Service Recognition Act

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the career and retirement of Thomas L. Rotella, Jr. for his outstanding years of service in the Central Valley. Tom's 43 years of dedication and achievements deserves to be commended. Tom's contributions to Fresno County began in his high school years while attending Roosevelt High School. During this time, Tom was elected into Youth Council of the Fresno City Economic Opportunities Commission. After a year, Mayor Ted Wills appointed him as Chairperson for the Fresno City Youth Commission; which he served as for two years from 1973 to 1975. Tom also sat on the Fresno Community Development Commission for three years from 1973 to 1976. Tom graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1974 and began attending evening classes at Fresno City College and throughout his educational lifetime, received 900 Hours of Labor Training at the William W. Winipisinger Educations and Technology Center. In 1976, he set foot on the path of his career by becoming a lot boy for Mid-Cal Ford Truck. Shortly afterward, he was given the opportunity of the Apprenticeship Program. In 1984, Tom completed the program as a Journeyman Mechanic and obtained three Masters in National Automotive Service of Excellence for Heavy Duty, Light Duty, and Automotive. He earned the position of Union Shop Steward, and was titled Assistant Service Manager for his last three years at Mid-Cal Ford Truck. He also held a California Smog License, as well as Brake, Lamp, and Air Conditioning Licenses. In 1976, he joined the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW). During his years with IAMAW, Tom's accomplishments included becoming the Recording Secretary for IAMAW Local 1309 and Vice-President of IAMAW District 87. Since 1990, Tom has served for twenty-five years as a Business Representative and President/Directing Business Representative for IAMAW Local 653 and Business Representative for IAMAW District 190, and has been the President of the California Conference of Machinists for the past fifteen years. TOM also participated as the Lead Negotiator in coordinating bargaining for the Building Trades with Fresno Unified School District as well as coordinating bargaining with Sun-Maid Growers for the International Association of Machinists, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and the International Union of Operating Engineers. In addition to his already lengthy resume, Tom has partook with the Machinists Non-Partisan Political League Planning Committee and was the past Vice President and current delegate to the Fresno, Madera, Tulare and Kings Counties Central Labor Council. He served on the Civil Service Commission for Fresno County for nine years as a Business Representative, and the Automotive and Machinists Joint Apprenticeship Committee for thirty years since completing his apprenticeship in 1984, serving as Chairman of the committee for the last twenty-five years. As a part of the Apprenticeship Committee, Tom was a participant and an asset to the Trade Advisory Council for Chowchilla Women's Facility, Corcoran's Men Facility and Tehachapi Prison. Tom has been happily married for thirty-six years to his wife, Barbara, and has been the proud father of three daughters and grandfather of five grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the exemplary career of Thomas Rotella Jr., and to wish him the best of luck and satisfaction in his retirement and future endeavors.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th anniversary of the start of the Armenian Genocide. In 1915, the Ottoman Empire orchestrated a murderous campaign that resulted in the death of 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children, and forced hundreds of thousands into exile. Growing up in the land of William Saroyan, I learned the stories of this tragic time from the sons and daughters of survivors time and time again. Refusal to accurately recognize this crime against humanity as genocide hurts both the Armenian people and the American people. In the Central Valley, Fresno State University has designated April 24 as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. The unveiling of the Armenian Genocide Monument, the first of its kind on a U.S. college campus, will take place later today at my alma mater and I know that this memorial will serve as a somber reminder of the devastating violence committed against the Armenian people for generations to come. Achieving peace today requires recognizing the dark parts of our history and moving forward to find a place of understanding and cooperation. It is my hope that Turkey grasps what President Obama has referred to as the burden of unresolved history and takes this important first step in recognizing what is widely referred to as the first genocide of the twentieth century. Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Acknowledging this atrocity would finally allow a fair, just, and comprehensive international resolution of this crime against humanity. It is time for Congress to end the silence and stand up for the Armenian people.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Bill and Dorothy Bizzini as the recipients of the Merced College Foundation's 2015 President's Medallion Award. Bill and Dorothy Bizzini have served their community with distinction, volunteering their time and donating to a wide range of causes and organizations in and around Merced County, California. Bill and Dorothy Bizzini will have been married for 60 years in June and are the proud parents of four successful children. Bill and Dorothy graduated from Gustine High School. Dorothy earned a Registered Nursing Diploma from Sacramento Junior College and a B.A. in Nursing Education from CSU Sacramento. Bill majored in Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis. Bill and Dorothy were the first in their families to earn college degrees. They have owned and operated the Atwater Veterinary Clinic, providing quality medical care for both large and small animals, thus serving the needs of the area's farmers, ranchers, and community members since 1960. Bill and Dorothy Bizzini have contributed their volunteer time by serving on many local, state, and national professional organizations and boards. Among these organizations are the Merced College Board of Trustees, the UC Merced Foundation, CSU Stanislaus Foundation, Atwater Chamber of Commerce, Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce, California Veterinary Medical Association, Atwater Methodist Church, Soroptimist Club of Atwater, Castle Air Force Base Community Council and Bloss Memorial Hospital Board of Directors. The Bizzini's have always promoted education throughout their lives. In 2004 the Classroom Building at California State University Stanislaus was renamed Dorothy and Bill Bizzini Hall after a pledge of $1.35 million. Dorothy is currently on the University of California Merced Foundation's Board of Trustees and Bill served until 2012. Bill and Dorothy went to college on scholarships and they clearly understand how important it is to help others achieve a higher education. Bill and Dorothy have inspired many others to follow their example of service above self, being active members of Rotary International and have attended 14 Rotary International Conventions. They have made numerous humanitarian trips to foreign countries, providing health services to families and children in Guatemala, Ghana, Venezuela, Mexico, El Salvador, Thailand and many other countries. Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I recognize the lifetime of commitment that Bill and Dorothy have given to the Merced County community. They are richly deserving of all honor and praise associated with the Merced College Foundation's President's Medallion.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about our most precious natural resource: water. It is Water Week here in D.C.; but in the San Joaquin Valley, in California, it is always Water Week. At first glance at this picture, you might think this was taken in an underdeveloped country thousands of miles away. It is not. These are the squalid living conditions in California's San Joaquin Valley. They are a direct result of the extreme lack of water in California. While, in part, the drought is to blame, our inability to move the limited water is exacerbating the crisis. While conditions like these are unacceptable, I think to all of us in the richest country in the world, we must do something about it. It takes water to grow food, period. California grows half the Nation's fruits and vegetables and more, but this year, some estimates say that 1 million acres out of 6 million acres usually in production will be fallowed. In the short term, we need to act on operational flexibility to deal with this crisis. In the long term, it is time that we fix this broken water system not just for California, but for the West and for the entire world to whom we provide a large part of the food supply. This is the challenge of the 21st century.

Mr. COSTA

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise with my colleagues in the California Democratic Congressional Delegation, Congressman Pete Aguilar, Congresswoman Karen Bass, Congressman Xavier Becerra, Congressman Ami Bera, Congresswoman Julia Brownley, Congresswoman Lois Capps, Congressman Tony Cardenas, Congresswoman Judy Chu, Congresswoman Susan Davis, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, Congressman Sam Farr, Congressman John Garamendi, Congresswoman Janice Hahn, Congressman Mike Honda, Congressman Jared Huffman, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Congressman Ted Lieu, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, Congressman Alan Lowenthal, Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Congressman Jerry McNerney, Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Scott Peters, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, Congressman Raul Ruiz, Congresswoman Linda Sanchez, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Congressman Adam Schiff, Congressman Brad Sherman, Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Congressman Eric Swalwell, Congressman Mark Takano, Congressman Mike Thompson, Congresswoman Norma Torres, Congressman Juan Vargas, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters, to honor the extraordinary life of Mr. John Mockler, who passed away on March 3, 2015. Mockler was one of the most influential voices on California education policy for more than 40 years, where he advised hundreds of Democratic and Republican lawmakers on public school funding. His legacy of public service, and support for public education, will impact California's public education system for many generations. Born on October 2, 1941 in Chicago and raised in Harbison Canyon near San Diego, Mockler was the son of William and Jane Mockler and had three sisters: Elsie, Lynn and Virginia. Mockler attended the University of San Francisco at 16, and subsequently graduated from University of California, Santa Barbara with a degree in Economics. A lifelong Democrat, Mockler cut his teeth in San Francisco politics, where he became active in union politics and was the executive director of the Youth Against 14 campaign in 1964. Proposition 14 would have made it legal to discriminate against home buyers on the basis of race. Mockler is best known as the architect of Proposition 98, the 1988 initiative that established a minimum level of state financial support for public schools at 40 percent of general fund spending. Proposition 98 remains a central feature in state budget negotiations for the past quarter century. His familiarity with the law made him an indispensible advisor to Governors Gray Davis and Jerry Brown as well as legislative leaders including former Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, Mockler's one- time boss. He is survived by his life partner Carol Farris, two children--Robert and Jessica, five grandchildren Willa, Clara, Sidney, Zachary and Auden, and countless friends and admirers. Today, the California Democratic Congressional Delegation salutes and honors the life of Mr. John Mockler. Mockler will be remembered for his tenacious support for schools and teachers and his legacy is felt with the enrollment of every kindergartner and the graduation of every senior class. We join all of Mockler's loved ones in celebrating his incredible life. He will be deeply missed.