Jeff Denham

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, as we continue to tackle the pressing need for VA health care reform, the last thing our veterans need is even more uncertainty with the many other benefits that have an equally important impact on their lives. H.R. 5404, the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act, extends several important VA authorities that support the services they rely on every single day. As current military forces overseas draw down, our country must prepare to welcome back thousands of returning soldiers, many of whom are young and aspiring to build a new life for themselves and their loved ones. For the next year, veterans can continue to utilize programs that help them pay off school debt, for health education, and buy affordable homes, helping their transition into civilian life be an easier one. For those veterans who require more day-to-day medical care, they can continue to qualify for child care assistance and specially adaptive housing grants, as well as accessing expanded health services, such as those provided by the VA's 70-plus mobile vet centers around the country. Transportation services to VA medical facilities will also continue, giving peace of mind to the many disabled or rural-based vets that too often find themselves restricted by mobility or distance. In rural districts like mine across the country, veterans often travel over 90 miles for an appointment, disrupting their lives and causing physical and financial hardship. Additionally, this bill reinforces our fight against homelessness by expanding rehabilitation, counseling, and housing programs to help these underserved veterans get back on their feet. Since 2009, veteran homelessness has dropped 23 percent, largely due to the success of these services. Whenever I travel back to my district and meet with local veteran constituents and organizations, it is clear that these grant programs are making a real difference. In California's Central Valley, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Stockton has received a grant from the VA that is helping preserve 791 households in San Joaquin County from the threat of homelessness. That is 791 families who have a chance to build a stable home life and keep their kids in school. As cochair of the Veterans Jobs Caucus, I place especially high importance on the continuance of our essential reintegration and job training programs. Through their service, these hardworking men and women gain the skills and qualities that are highly valued by employers. We must do all we can to connect them with the resources and training they need to land worthwhile jobs that will bring this financial security and dignity to their lives. In closing, I would just like to thank the ranking member and the chairman as well as all of the committee for their hard work in putting this bill together. This is a great bipartisan bill that will continue to help the lives of those that have given everything for the freedoms of our country.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor today to introduce to the House our guest chaplain, Glen Berteau, of Modesto, from The House. Glen currently serves as senior pastor at The House in Modesto. A church of more than 8,000, his congregation was named as one of the 50 top largest churches in America. The House's outreach has touched the lives of people all across the Central Valley. He is a leader who has pulled our faith-based community together and our pastors together to address so many of our issues in California's Central Valley. Glen is a youth pastor and author of a popular youth manual and two books: ``Christianity Life'' and ``Christianity to Go.'' He is a gifted speaker and evangelist and teacher, speaking not only in California's Central Valley but in conferences all over the world. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in welcoming Glen this afternoon. We thank him for offering this morning's opening prayer in the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor Stanislaus County Office of Emergency Services Manager III Deborah Thrasher on her retirement. After 13 years of valuable service to the Emergency Operations Center and county, Mrs. Thrasher retired on September 5, 2014. Mrs. Thrasher has been an integral part of the development and maintenance of emergency operations plans for Stanislaus County and nine other cities. She has developed and handled the annual maintenance and continuity of government plans and operations for the county and hosted workshops for local agencies. Mrs. Thrasher managed the local hazard mitigation plan and developed several programs for the county, including the agriculture plan, avian influenza plan, and functional annexes for emergency operations plans. Over the last 10 years, Mrs. Thrasher was also responsible for management and administration of all related grant programs. During that time, she became one of the most respected operational area managers of Homeland Security Grants. Additional duties included, coordinating FEMA Emergency Management Performance Grants and Public Safety Interoperable Communications Grant program. Mrs. Thrasher served on several local and state committees representing Stanislaus County, including the Mutual Aid Regional Advisory Committee, California Emergency Services Association, Stanislaus County Healthcare Executives, and the Stanislaus County Operational Area Council. Through her leadership, she developed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Stanislaus County and United Way. Mrs. Thrasher would also swear in volunteers as emergency service workers and participate in full scale exercises with the county & State of California. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Stanislaus County Office of Emergency Services Manager III Deborah Thrasher on her retirement and in wishing her the best of luck in her future endeavors.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor a fellow community member and small business leader, Michael Lynch. Mr. Lynch's exemplary contributions to Turlock and surrounding communities in my district have earned him recognition by the Turlock Chamber of Commerce. Not only has the Turlock Chamber of Commerce recognized Mr. Lynch, Cal Chamber, California's statewide chamber of Commerce, has awarded him the Small Business Advocate of the Year Award. This award was created in 1996 by CalChamber to recognize small business owners who have dedicated themselves to small business advocacy not only at a local and state level, but also at a national level. In 1973, immediately after graduating from Santa Clara University, Mr. Lynch, began his long career of public service by becoming the Administrative Assistant to Sacramento County Supervisor Pat Melarkey. Mr. Lynch worked for Mr. Melarkey for five years before accepting a position at a law firm as a consultant. After a short time in the private sector, Mr. Lynch accepted the Principal Consultant position at the California Assembly Office of Majority services in 1980. After his service at the California Assembly office, in 1984, he accepted a position as Chief of Staff for California Assemblyman Gary Condit, where he served for 13 years improving the lives of California citizens. In 2004, Mr. Lynch became the Chief Operating Officer of Great Valley Center. Founded in 1997, the Great Valley Center is an organization whose mission it is to engage the public to take an active role and participate in local government. As the COO of Great Valley Center, Michael Lynch advised and oversaw the organization's efforts in the California Central Valley to promote their mission. One of Mr. Lynch's greatest accomplishments while in office at the Great Valley Center was the merging of the organization with the University of California, Merced. After the successful integration of the university, Mr. Lynch returned to the private sector to found his own consulting firm. Although he runs his own firm, he still finds the time to advance the mission of the Great Valley Center by advocating for small businesses and bringing critical issues to the forefront of public discussions. In order to effectively promote small business issues, Michael Lynch volunteered as Chairman of the Turlock Chamber of Commerce Government Relations Committee. As chair of the committee, Michael invites experts to discuss issues with local small business owners in order to keep his community informed. In addition, Mr. Lynch informs the general public and the national small business community about issues affecting Americans by being published in newspapers and business journals. With his success as Chairman of the Government Relations Committee, the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors took notice of his expertise and appointed Mr. Lynch to serve on the County Water Advisory Committee. As part of the committee, he has been a strong advocate for small businesses who are dependent on the water supply. One of the highlights of his service on the advisory committee was the scheduling of regional water issues forums focused on the challenges that face Stanislaus County. Along with scheduling speakers for the forum, Mr. Lynch led conference calls and other outreach activities in order to secure the support and participation of key organizations. Mr. Speaker, please join me in celebrating with the Turlock Chamber of Commerce in honoring Michael Lynch; not only for being awarded the CalChamber Small Business Advocate of the Year Award, but also for continuing to volunteer his services to empower citizens and businesses in the Central Valley. California and the members of my district appreciate the 30 years of service Mr. Lynch has put into our great state and community and look forward to his continued support in the future. Thank you Michael Lynch.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chairman, this is a very simple amendment. Again, it reads: ``None of the funds made available by this Act may be used for high-speed rail in the State of California or for the California High- Speed Rail Authority.'' As chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, I am a big supporter of high-speed rail. I have seen some of the greatest high-speed rail in other countries, and here, even in the United States, we are going to see the first high-speed rail in Texas and then in Florida--two projects that are moving forward with private dollars. Yet, in California, in 2008, we passed Proposition 1A, which was a guarantee to the voters that a $33 billion project would not only be built but would be built on time, with equal parts of funding from the State voters, from the Federal Government, hopefully, and then from the private investors. Today, 5 years later, after $3.8 billion in stimulus funds for shovel-ready projects were dedicated to this, still not one shovel is in the ground. It is a project that has been held up in court. The $9.95 billion cannot be used, and there are no private investors. So the question is: Why should the Federal Government be putting more money into a project that is nonexistent today? It is a project that, even by its own definition, is $32 billion short, not in the project, but in the initial operating segment, which is guaranteed to the voters to be completed. This is a project that has grown out of control. When they found out that they were in default in April, rather than fixing the problem, they committed to next year's budget, utilizing $250 million in cap-and-trade funding. There is a reason the judges have struck this down to this point, and there is a reason that voters wanted to have this go back before them: it is a project that has no end in sight. Again, no shovels have been put into the ground even though the Federal Government has obligated $3.8 billion--money that could be used for other priorities. Today, we are in a situation. With a $32 billion shortfall, there is no proposal from the President to fill that gap, and there is no proposal from the Governor to fill that gap. Yet there is the hope that the Federal Government will continue to find new money to throw at something that is nonexistent. This doesn't meet the Prop 1A guarantee. There is no State match, and the cost has more than doubled. Again, the jobs that have continued to be talked about for the last 5 years are nonexistent. Mr. Chairman, I would urge an ``aye'' vote on this amendment. We have got to stop this train wreck. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss a new bill that has just been introduced, the Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act. Our veterans have waited too long. If you have served our country and if you have gone to the VA center, we need to make sure you have got access to timely care. Whether it is primary care or urgent care, if it is beyond 7 days, you can go see a new doctor, and if it is beyond 14 days for specialty care, you can go see a new doctor at the VA's expense. We owe our veterans nothing less than to make sure that they have got world-class health care and that they have it immediately.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Harvey Douma, who has devoted his life to Ripon, California and is being honored with the Harvey Douma Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ripon Rotary Club. The club created this award to recognize and honor a Rotary member who has made immeasurable contributions to the club and named it after a charter member. Harvey will be the first recipient. In 1918, Harvey Douma arrived in Ripon when he was only a year and a half of age. The family made the trip from Northern Michigan in their seven passenger car. The clutch went out on the trip and they took the train for the remainder of their journey. They arrived in Lathrop on November 17, where they waited, for eight hours, to transfer to another train that would take them to the Ripon, California. When he came of age, Harvey enlisted in the Merchant Marines. He attended basic training on Catalina Island during World War II. His first duty station assignment was to a troop transport on a ship that was in dry dock at San Pedro, California. After completing his service to his country, he returned to Ripon. He joined the Ripon Police Department, where he was a member for 31 years. Harvey served as Chief of Police from October 1, 1963 to May 26, 1982, which is the longest tenure of any police chief in Ripon history. In 1968, at the 6th Annual Ripon Almond Blossom Festival, the Ripon Chamber of Commerce dedicated the festival to salute local law enforcement with emphasis to be placed on ``Operation Crime Stop''. They named Harvey as the Grand Marshal of the parade. He also had the honor of serving as Grand Marshal of Ripon High School's Centennial Parade & Celebration. As a 1935 Ripon High School graduate, he is the oldest living alumnus. As one that gives back to his community, he is a member of several community organizations. As a charter member of the Ripon Rotary Club, he has earned 2 Paul Harris Awards. In addition, he is a charter member of Ripon's Historical Society, life member of the Chamber of Commerce and served as President in 1970; he has been a member of the Safety Council for over 55 years. When he is not volunteering his time, he enjoys fishing, hunting and travel. In 1939, Harvey married Etta Mae Ramsey. They were married for 58 years until her death in 1997. Their union produced three children; Linda Perrando, Donna Vincelet Brundy, and Donald Douma. They have 6 grandchildren: Diane Wong, Greg & Roger Vincelet; Mike & Mark Perrando; Stacey Cordoba & Dorine Hatcher and 7 great-grandchildren: Lyndsey & Kyle Wong; Megan Vincelet Van Ruiten & Cody Vincelet; Jordyn & Jayse Vincelet; Julia Hatcher, Deceased. Mr. Speaker, please join me in celebrating with the Ripon Rotary Club in honoring Harvey Douma with the Harvey Douma Lifetime Achievement Award. He is a man who dedicated numerous years of selfless service to the betterment of our community.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor Dr. Charles R. Roots on his retirement and to recognize his tireless work as the Senior Pastor of the Free Methodist Church in Ripon. Ministering to thousands, Pastor Roots has earned the respect of fellow clergy and civic leaders alike. Although born in New Haven, Connecticut, on September 5, 1948, he claims California as his home. In 1969, he began his military career as an enlisted Marine. He served with numerous commands during his nine years in the Marine Corps: AE-A School, NAS Jacksonville, Florida; VMFA 531, MCAS El Toro, California; VMCJ 1, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan; VMCJ1 det A (Cubi Point, the Philippines and Da Nang, South Vietnam); VMA 133, NAS Alameda, California; and 4th LAAM Battalion, Fresno, California. He was commissioned as a Navy Chaplain December 23, 1983. After attending the Navy Chaplain Corps Basic Course, NS Newport, Rhode Island, he served the following commands: Chaplain, MAG 39, MCB Camp Pendleton, California; Command Chaplain, USS White Plains (AFS4), NS Guam; Base Chaplain, NCS Stockton, California; Post-Graduate School, School of Theology at Claremont, California; and Chaplain at NS Rota, Spain. Within the active naval reserve he has served as: Chaplain, 1st MEFREL 220, Treasure Island, San Francisco, California; Battalion Chaplain, 1st Battalion 14th Marines Artillery, Alameda, California; Battalion Chaplain, 2nd Battalion 23rd Marines Infantry, Encino, California; Plans and Policy, Navy Chief of Chaplains Office, Washington, DC (The Pentagon); Command Chaplain, NARC, San Jose, California; and Command Chaplain, I MACE, Camp Pendleton, California. In November of 2002 he was called back to active duty for two years in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) I & II. He served as the Commanding Officer of 1st MEFREL 220, NMCRC Alameda, California. He was chosen by the Reserve Officers Association (ROA) as ``Chaplain of the Year'' for 2004. His last duty assignment was the Wing Chaplain for the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, New Orleans, Louisiana. He retired in September 2008 after 34 years of total service. During his illustrious military career, he has received many awards, including: Legion of Merit; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal; Navy/ Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2nd Award); Joint Meritorious Unit Award; Navy Unit Commendation; Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation; Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal; Navy Fleet Marine Force Ribbon; Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal; National Defense Service Medal with two stars; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Vietnam Campaign Medal with one star; Iraq Campaign Medal with EGA device; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with EGA device; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal; Navy/ Marine Corps Sea Service Deployment with three stars; Navy/Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with hour glass and Mobilization devices; Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with bracket and palm leaf; Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation with bracket and palm leaf; Vietnam Service Medal; Marine Corps Rifle Expert Badge; and Marine Corps Pistol Expert Badge. During his service, he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Radio and Television Broadcasting from San Jose State University in 1976. He continued his education by graduating from Western Evangelical Seminary in Portland, Oregon with a Masters of Divinity in Biblical Studies in 1979. In 1995, he earned his Doctor of Ministry Degree in Pastoral Counseling from the School of Theology at Claremont. Charles R. Roots is an ordained minister through the Free Methodist Church of North America. Dr. Roots settled in Ripon, California and is the Senior Pastor of the Free Methodist Church. As a volunteer, he serves as the chaplain for the Ripon Police Department and is a member of the International Conference of Police Chaplains (ICPC). In addition, he is the past president of the Ripon Ministerial Association; the Police Activities League (PAL); a past director of the Ripon Chamber of Commerce, and numerous other community organizations. He belongs to the Military Chaplains Association (MCA); The Naval Reserve Association (NRA); the Reserve Officers Association (ROA); the Marine Corps Association; the Marine Corps Club of Stockton, California; the Joe Rosenthal Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association (MCCCA); the vice president of the Ripon Arts League (RAL); and the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA). During his spare time, he became a published author: The Sandwich Generation: Adult Children Caring for Aging Parents. He also writes a weekly column, Roots in Ripon, for the Ripon Record newspaper. He is currently writing a historical novel about his great grandfather, Rev. Daniel Thatcher Lake, a Civil War veteran and one of the last of the Circuit Riding Preachers in the South. Dr. Roots is married to the former Isaura Maria Cabral of Los Banos, California. They have two married daughters, Laura Christine Spence and Jennifer Kathleen Sousa, and five grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Dr. Charles Roots for his unwavering leadership, and recognizing his accomplishments and contributions as Pastor of the Free Methodist Church. Dr. Roots serves as an example of excellence to those in our community.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Stanislaus County Farm Bureau as they celebrate their 100th year anniversary. The Stanislaus County Farm Bureau (SCFB) was organized in 1914. Through the efforts of the old Stanislaus County Board of Trade, its President, J.W. Davison, Secretary, Geo T. McCabe, and other Directors of that body, an appropriation was made by the Board of Supervisors for the expense of a Farm Advisor. In 1975, they changed from center concept to regional concept for the purpose of electing directors and gathering members. To keep their members apprised of what was happening, the Farm Bureau began publication of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau Monthly newsletter in 1949. They changed the format in 1971, and the publication was sent out weekly. A few years later, in 1980, the title was changed to the Stanislaus Farm News, and is presently the only weekly county farm bureau publication in the Nation. The SCFB is a nonprofit, voluntary membership organization whose mission is to serve as the voice of Stanislaus County agriculture at all levels of government, while providing programs to assist its farms and family members and educate the general public on the needs and importance of agriculture. The Bureau provides a network of support both on and off the farm. From delivering breaking legislative and local news, to providing educational tools and helpful discounts, they are there to serve the farmers. As of today, the organization serves over 3,000 members in Stanislaus County with the motto: ``Farmers Feed Families.'' The SCFB is actively involved in agricultural education of the public and students in Stanislaus County through programs such as Ag in the Classroom and Ag Edventure. Programs such as Farm Team, Rural Crime Alert and the Stanislaus Safety Seminar are highly successful member and public service programs that enhance community awareness of agriculture and the issues faced by today's farmers and ranchers. Mr. Speaker, please join me in celebrating with the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau for their significant contributions, not only to agriculture, but to the community and the State of California. Congratulations on the past 100 years, and I wish you the best success in the years to come.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor 129th Rescue Wing Support Squadron Vice Squadron Commander Roger Dale Higby, who is retiring after 52 years in law enforcement. Mr. Higby moved to California at the age of five. He attended Los Gatos High School and graduated with an Associate of Arts Degree in Law Enforcement from West Valley College. Roger continued his education at San Jose State University where he acquired a Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice. Roger began his lengthy law enforcement career in 1961 as a campus police officer at San Jose City College. From 1963 to 1966, Roger served in the United States Army attaining the rank of Sergeant in the Military Police and as a traffic investigator. Afterwards, Mr. Higby served as a weapons specialist in the California Air National Guard. In 1966, he joined the Campbell Police Department and quickly moved up the ranks. The County of Stanislaus was lucky to acquire him in 1976, when Roger became the Chief of Police of Riverbank. At that time, the department had lost its POST certification and was under the supervision of the Attorney General. In two years, Roger was able to regain that certification and get the department back on track. During this time, he also served in the City of Waterford and taught at Ceres High School. Mr. Higby spent 20 years with the Modesto Police Department in a variety of departments. He was a Traffic Sergeant, a member of the SWAT team, and Watch Commander. Roger had a 90 percent homicide clearance record when he was a Detective Sergeant. Since January 2013, he has served as the Vice Squadron Commander at the 129th Rescue Wing Support Squadron at Moffett Airfield. Prior to joining the Squadron, Roger enjoyed many years at the State Guard Association of the United States as a MEMS Commandant Emeritus/ MEMS International Coordinator. Roger is married to Domenica Cindy and has a daughter, Danielle. In addition to his wife & child, his family includes his parents, Alfred & Mary Higby; siblings Richard and Joann Higby; biological parents Ruth Larsen and Ray Swift; and his biological siblings, Verna ``Sue'' Wertz, Thomas Bisbee, Dennis, Danny, Robert, and Debbie Swift. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, gardening, and farming almonds. Roger plans to continue consulting, training, mentoring, and writing after his retirement. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring and commending the outstanding contributions made to law enforcement by Vice Squadron Commander Roger Dale Higby and hereby wish him continued success in his retirement.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation as they celebrate their 100th year anniversary. The San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation was formed in 1914; it began with 650 members and 14 Farm Centers. In 1919, the San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation helped hold the County's first fair, located in Oak Park. By 1931, SJFB was the largest Farm Bureau in the United States with 2,301 members. The SJFB soon outgrew their building and dedicated their new, larger building in 1938. During this time, their vision created structure. Subcommittees comprised of local farmers were established in every area of the county. They were charged with mapping out and organizing the sections. The idea behind the plan was to prevent sabotage and fires, provide information, develop a cooperative use of farm implements and labor, as well as to assist in any national food production plan. During World War II, the Farm Bureau devoted a major part of war emergency to defense work. The top 10 priority issues declared by the Farm Bureau in 1952 were: economy, good government, citizenship, schools and school costs, international trade, adequate labor, inflation, water, terminal market waste, and a better understanding of the relationship between the farm bureau and the consumer. In the mid-1950s, there were many changes to the local politics and organizations. The Farm Bureau took a hard stance opposing a certain State Assembly bill relating to gun control, citing that it would drive firearms underground. During this time, the San Joaquin County Agri- Center was formed. A year later, the California Division of Water Resources was set up; it abolished several State boards and commissions. The Young People's Department was approved by the board, which served as the forerunner for the Young Farmers and Ranchers Program. Shortly after, two land use policies were passed. One addressed the protection of agricultural lands from annexation and another to prevent the use of top soil for road and other construction fills. In the 1960s, the SJFB made changes to the Cow Testing Association and created the San Joaquin County Dairy Herd Improvement. Farm Bureau records and funds were turned over to the new cooperation. The SJFB took a hard stance in 1964 by opposing the Delta Peripheral Canal, which would have cut a large swath through some of the county's most valuable farm land. Toward the late 1960s, the County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution for the establishment of agricultural preserves for the county. The current San Joaquin Farm Bureau Office was dedicated in 1972. There were many changes during the 80s for the San Joaquin Farm Bureau. They reinforced the importance of the dairy industry to the county when the SJFB Board of Directors voted in sharp disagreement with the California Farm Bureau Federation when they asked for $.29 per hundred weight drop in Class One milk. In addition, the president of Zenith announced its purchase of CalFarm Insurance. The partnership between the Farm Bureau and CalFarm began to materialize. The Immigration Reform Act of 1986 came through a joint effort by the agricultural interests of California and Congress. The Alien Legalization for Agriculture program was formed in 1987 as a result of immigration legislation that passed in Congress. The SJFB contracted with federal officials to provide local agriculture workers the ability to gain citizenship through the amnesty program that was granted at that time. Thousands of workers were able to utilize this program to become U.S. citizens. At the end of the process, excess funds were used to help start the SJFB Foundation for Agricultural Education. In 1988, the Environmental Affairs Committee was formed and immediately set out to work on the Endangered Species Act, San Joaquin Air Basin Air Quality, and pesticide regulation and enforcement. The 1990s brought the advent of many ``new town'' proposals, self- contained urban areas that would not become incorporated cities. Only one of these new town proposals, Mountain House, was supported by the San Joaquin Farm Bureau and remains an active, growing community in the county. Efforts were made to create a rural crime task force under the Sheriffs Department to ensure adequate personnel would be allocated to counter crimes impacting agricultural operations. The SJFB initiated policy language at the State Farm Bureau Convention to prioritize metal theft, and to require recyclers to adhere to strict guidelines when accepting metal. Their efforts led to legislation that passed the California State Legislature the following year. The 2000s enabled the SJFB to work with the county on what is now known as the Cabral Agricultural Center which houses the Agricultural Commissioner, U.C. Cooperative Extension, and the Office of Emergency Services. San Joaquin Farm Bureau members and staff have advanced the concept of providing an ``Ag Venture'' program, which helps 13,000 3rd grade students from throughout the county attend one of three ``Ag Venture'' days. The program gives students the opportunity to learn more about where their food comes from and the benefits of eating local crops. They have also advanced a ``Farmers Market'' program that educates 4th grade students in low income schools on the benefits of eating specialty crops that come from the region. At the end of the 4 session program, students are given the opportunity to purchase fresh produce for 10 cents each to bring home fruits and vegetables. In the past two years, the SJFB was recognized by the American Farm Bureau Federation under their ``Counties Activities of Excellence'' program. The San Joaquin Farm Bureau's advocacy efforts, agricultural education, and safety training programs all have contributed to their being recognized under this program. The SJFB was selected as the County of the Year in 2013 by the California Farm Bureau Federation. The San Joaquin Farm Bureau has accomplished a number of commendable things within the community. They have also maintained a county legislative committee that has worked with the State Legislature, and an economic committee that has made progress in enforcement of State realty laws. The San Joaquin Farm Bureau has also assisted the Federal Land Bank to provide funds to farmers, and have campaigned for reapportionment of the State Legislature. In addition to this, the SJFB has maintained a cow-testing association, sponsored 4H activities, cooperated with the extension service in educational programs, and have represented livestock men in demanding dog law enforcement. Mr. Speaker, please join me in celebrating with the San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation for their significant contributions, not only to agriculture, but to the community, and the State of California. Congratulations on the past 100 years, and I wish you the best success in the years to come.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, more than 14 million seniors nationwide depend on Medicare Advantage plans for their health care needs. In two of the counties that I represent in California's Central Valley, over 60,000 seniors are enrolled in Medicare Advantage. The program is an absolute necessity for them because it limits their out-of-pocket expense, protecting them from the threat of bankruptcy due to a complicated and an ongoing medical condition. The President's massive government overhaul of our health care system has raided $300 million from Medicare Advantage plans and created a health care tax that has just started this year. These payment cuts and the new health insurance tax are already being felt with canceled plans, reduced benefits, and increased co-payments. There are 33,000 seniors in my county--Stanislaus County--making under $20,000 a year, who are going to be hit with almost $100 per month. They have a right to know when this tax is going to hit them, what the expense is going to be. Seniors on limited incomes should have the right to know, which is why I authored the Seniors' Right to Know Act.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to posthumously honor the life of John Henry Dayton who passed away on February 9, 2014 surrounded by family. John Henry Dayton was born in Turlock, California to Charles and Florence Dayton. He lived the epitome of a rural life, being raised on a 10-acre ranch in the Hughson, California with his siblings, Cheryl, Lonn, and Paul. Mr. Dayton attended grammar and high school in Hughson. At Hughson High School, John enjoyed track, basketball, football, and playing the trombone in band. Mr. Dayton was well known for his kindness, humor and intelligence, earning him the ``Wittiest Student Award'' during his junior year and the ``Biggest Cut-Up Award'' his senior year. John attended Oregon State University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree at the School of Pharmacy in 1966. While at Oregon State, he married Beverly Jean (Wyatt) Tack from Portland, Oregon. Together, John and Beverly raised two children, Kristin and Mike. After college, Mr. Dayton moved back to California and worked as a pharmacist in the Modesto area. In 1971, John and his business partner, Harold Copp opened Oakdale Village Pharmacy in the city's first shopping center. The independently owned and operated drug store thrived and competed with the larger retail chains. Eventually, John and Harold opened additional pharmacies in Escalon and Modesto. Mr. Dayton was later remarried to Susan Thorpe in 1985. Together they raised two children, Kevin Cooper and Tasha Poslaniec of Modesto. Throughout more than four decades of business in the Oakdale area, he earned a reputation as a knowledgeable, personable, easy-going, dependable, helpful and trustworthy pharmacist. John enjoyed every aspect of business and working with people. In November 2012, John was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer. At the time, he was in the midst of starting a new compounding pharmacy in Sonora and building a home on Horseshoe Road outside of Oakdale. He told his family that the new compounding pharmacy would provide him with the means to eventually re-open a pharmacy in downtown Oakdale, where he would once again enjoy the camaraderie of long-time patrons and employees. Despite the grim prognosis and a marital separation, John remained optimistic, kindhearted, and faithful. In sickness, his family rallied around him. His grace, courage and faith left an indelible mark on his loving family. Mr. John Henry Dayton is survived by his mother, Mrs. Charles Dayton; daughter, Kristin (Debra Bringham) Dayton; son, Mike (Alanna) Dayton; sister, Cheryl (Jim) Harlan; and brothers, Lonn (Pam) Dayton, and Paul Dayton. John was grandfather to six grandchildren and two great- grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Dayton; and stepson, Kevin Cooper. Mr. Speaker, please join me in celebrating the life of Mr. John Henry Dayton and all of his excellent contributions to his family and community.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of one of my constituents, John Henry Dayton, who passed away on February 9. John was born in Turlock, California, to Charles and Florence Dayton. He was raised on a ranch in Hughson, California, with his three siblings. Mr. Dayton attended grammar and high school in Hughson and then Oregon State University. In college, he married Beverly Jean Tack. Together, they raised two children. After college, Mr. Dayton moved back to California. In 1971, John and his business partner, Harold Copp, opened Oakdale Village Pharmacy in the city's first shopping center. Eventually, they opened additional pharmacies in Escalon and Modesto. Mr. Dayton was later remarried to Susan Thorpe in 1995. Together, they raised two children. Throughout more than four decades of business in the Oakdale area, John earned a reputation as a knowledgeable, personable, and trustworthy local pharmacist. In November 2012, John was diagnosed with stage four brain cancer. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Dayton, and stepson, Kevin Cooper. Madam Speaker, please join me in celebrating the life of Mr. John Henry Dayton and all of his contributions to his family and our community.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the 100th anniversary of the county Engineers Association of California. The County Engineers Association of California was established in 1914 and is made up of county engineers, public works directors, county road commissioners and professional personnel throughout California's 58 counties. The purpose of the association is to advance county engineering and management by providing a forum for exchanging ideas and information to improve service to the public. The association has a close relationship with the California State Association of Counties and is supportive of advocacy work to develop policies that benefit counties and citizens. The County Engineers Association of California works on many issues toward improving the state of our water. Specific issues include wastewater, storm water, flood control infrastructure, in addition to matters regarding clean and safe drinking water. Through much collaboration, the County Engineers Association of California strives to provide, create, and maintain infrastructure that aids in the health, safety, and general welfare for California. Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the County Engineers Association of California for their 100 years of outstanding contributions to the community.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge Deputy Police Chief Mike Borges of the Ceres Police Department for his 34 years of outstanding service and commitment to public safety in the community. Deputy Chief Mike Borges grew up in the Modesto area and worked at a dairy. He graduated from Modesto High School in June of 1974 and joined the Army in March of 1976, where he served in the Military Police until November of 1979. Mr. Borges left the Army at the rank of Sergeant, and returned home to begin his career as a police officer. In April of 1980, Mr. Mike Borges was hired by the City of Ceres as a police officer. The Ceres Police Department sponsored him while he attended the police academy, and he ultimately chose to remain in Ceres. During his tenure, Borges worked in many different positions within the agency. From 1984 to 1987, he served as a Detective and in 1987, became a Field Training Officer and Corporal. In 1988, he was promoted to the position of Sergeant. As a Sergeant, Mr. Borges served as a patrol Watch Commander and Supervisor, and served as the agency's Police Explorer Advisor for over 10 years. In addition to this, he served as the SWAT team leader for eight years, and spent over four years supervising the Detective Bureau for the Ceres Police Department. In August of 2005, he was appointed as the Police Division Commander, and in December 2007, Mr. Borges became Deputy Chief. Deputy Chief Borges earned an Associate of Arts degree in Administration of Justice from Modesto Junior College, and a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Management, with a focus in Human Resources from California State University, Stanislaus. He graduated from the Sherman Block Supervisor Leadership Institute, Class 11; a program designed to stimulate personal growth, leadership, and ethical decision-making in California law enforcement's front line supervisors. Mr. Borges has been a longtime board member and has previously served as the president of Ceres Youth Baseball. He is also one of the founding members of the Ceres Police Officers Association. He has been an active member in the Ceres Lions Club since 2004, where he has also served as a board member. Mr. Borges enjoys sports, staying active, being involved with community youth, and spending time with his family. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Mike Borges for his 34 years of service and outstanding contributions of the Ceres community as well as our country.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor the life of an American hero, Lyle W. Jenks, who will be celebrating his 94th birthday on March 29. Like many young Americans, Lyle was horrified by the attack on Pearl Harbor. His immediate response was to serve and defend his country. The following day, December 8, 1941, Mr. Jenks enlisted in the United States Army. Mr. Lyle Jenks left his job in Lansing, Michigan, and left to complete his basic training at Camp Roberts in Central California. He later was stationed at Fort Custer, Michigan. Mr. Jenks was deployed to the Aleutian Islands in June of 1943 on the island of Attu. While he was stationed in Attu, he worked in the message department. He stayed there until January 10, 1945 when he was assigned to the message department at the Pentagon. He was discharged on November 3, 1945 at Fort Myer, Virginia. He was proud to serve his country in the Army during the entire period of World War II. He received many awards and medals during his tour of duty. These medals included: the Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Motor Vehicle Drivers Medal, and Mechanic's Badge with W bar. Mr. Jenks was also honored with the Expert Infantryman Badge, Honorable Service Lapel Button, WW at Expert Infantryman Badge, Marksman Badge with Carbine bar, and Sharpshooter Badge with a Rifle Bar. Mr. Lyle Jenks went back to work just days after his separation from the military. He supported his family as a construction supervisor and maintenance worker until he was 80 years old. Lyle helped many elderly people who could not pay to repair their homes. He also served diligently in his church. Lyle and his wife Helen were married 35 years until she was taken from him by cancer. Lyle and Helen were not able to have children together. Lyle Jenks then married Patsy Savage and instantly her children became his children. Together, they now share the joy of grandchildren. They will celebrate 32 years of marriage this year.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, the administration has declared this week to be National Latino Enrollment Week in the hopes of mounting a special push--a big rush--of Latinos rushing to sign up for the Affordable Care Act because it is supposedly going to help their lives in so many ways. Yet Latinos nationwide, like millions of other Americans, are discovering that they just can't afford the Affordable Care Act. Not only is it causing them to lose coverage, but they also see their premiums rise and have their health care plans canceled. The Spanish site that the administration promised would help people enroll reads as if it were written by a first-year Spanish student, and it has proven to have more problems than the actual English version of healthcare.gov. Where we live in the Central Valley, Latinos already struggle to access doctors. We have got a huge shortage of doctors, doctors that are willing to take Medicare and Medicaid, because of the reimbursement rates. So now, with the Affordable Care Act, we are going to have even fewer doctors and less access. Health care reform that doesn't increase their access is meaningless. The Affordable Care Act has also heightened their struggles. Mr. Speaker, we must repeal and replace this damaging law with one that benefits the Latino community and millions of others across the country.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor the life of a true American hero, Robert Newton Lowry, on his 95th birthday. Bob was born on this day, February 25, 1919, 95 years ago, here in Washington, D.C. He considers Modesto, California, his home. For high school, Mr. Lowry attended Manlius School, a military school in upstate New York. He graduated at the top of his class and was named an ROTC honor grad. Bob also received a commission to the United States Army, but, unfortunately, he was too young to accept it at the time. He then was admitted to Princeton University. During his time there, he received the prestigious New York Herald Book Award. He graduated in 1942 with highest honors, summa cum laude and ROTC. These honors earned him another commission, this time to the United States Marine Corps as a second lieutenant. In July 1942, following Officer Candidate School at Quantico, he began artillery training. In February of 1943, Bob sailed out of San Diego Harbor with the 2nd Battalion, 12th Regiment of the Third Marine Division. He joined the fighting in the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific, first in Guadalcanal, then the original invasions of Bougainville, Guam, and Iwo Jima. During his time in Auckland, New Zealand, Bob met his wife, Lieutenant Commander Mary Dudley. They married in May of 1946. Mary died in April 2005, just 2 weeks before their 60th anniversary. Mary always maintained that, as lieutenant commander, she outranked him both in the military service and in their marriage. They are survived by two children, Robert Dudley Lowry and Ann Lowry-Perez, as well as four grandchildren: Sam and Joe Lowry, and Michael and Lowry Champion. After the battle of Iwo Jima, Bob returned stateside to Norfolk, Virginia, where he commanded a Marine guard company at the naval station. He was soon appointed commanding officer of the Europa, a 100- man Marine detachment sent to Europe to provide security for a seized German luxury liner. Bob was one of the few Marine Corps officers to manage the commissioning of this kind of Navy vessel. Bob was released from Active Duty in January 1946 and retired from the Marines in 1959 with the rank of major. Following his time in the Marines, he enrolled in law school at the University of Virginia in a postwar accelerated program, graduating in 1948. Bob then began a lifetime of specialty law practice, primarily in public utility and transportation. His career started first with the Southern Railway and then progressed to his work at a law firm in Washington, D.C. In 1953, Bob accepted a position with Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison, a renowned law firm in San Francisco, from which he retired in 1989. He has greatly enjoyed the company of the Marine Corps League, the Modesto Detachment, whose members regularly go out of their way to include him, to celebrate his service, as well as they are doing his 95th birthday celebration. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Robert Newton Lowry on his unwavering dedication and contributions to this great Nation.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Reverend Wayne Bridegroom for receiving the Martin Luther King Legacy Award. After 40 years of being a pastor, this is a well-deserved recognition. In 1973, Rev. Bridegroom started at Central Baptist Church in West Modesto, where he still lives today. In 1981, he became the pastor and opened his doors to many ethnic groups. He began by ministering to Southeast Asian and Latino immigrants, but soon Central Baptist become home to the Laotian, Hmong, Cambodian and Hispanic populations as well. In 1980, he brought many of the Anglo churches from across town to form Modesto Outreach Ministry, which later became the Christian Challenge Ministries. Pastor Bridegroom has a unique ability to develop networks and put his talent to work, becoming the co-founder of Harvest of Hope. Harvest of Hope is a collaboration of church, neighborhood and county government which focuses on providing goods for needy families. In 1989, he spearheaded a group called Love Inc., which paired people in need with agencies and volunteers in churches. He also helped in the founding of Weed and Seed, which led to First Tee, a golf mentoring program on the city's municipal course, and started Boy and Girl Scouting programs on the west side. In the last 20 years, Rev. Bridegroom has worked with the West Modesto King Kennedy neighborhood collaborative and helped improve relationships between police and the community. In 2000, Pastor Bridegroom helped form Congregations Building Communities, the PICO affiliate in Modesto. In addition, he assisted in forming a street lighting district to add streetlights to an unincorporated area of Southwest Modesto in 2005. More recently, he's been involved in calls for immigration reform. His church's congregation has been a mixing pot of Latino, Hmong, Cambodian and Laotian people sharing space and worshipping together. In June, he plans to officially retire as the Senior Pastor of his congregation, but plans to continue as an unpaid volunteer in that role. Pastor Bridegroom has also served as interviewer for Stanislaus County Sheriff candidates and City of Modesto police captains. He has organized a baseball league in west Modesto and chaired block parties for the National Night Out. Mr. Speaker, please join me in praising Pastor Wayne Bridegroom, for his significant contributions as a bridge between evangelicals and Catholics, U.S. citizens and immigrants, and his overall effort to provide a thriving foundation for our community.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the bill to ensure again that the House takes the lead in taking action about this big crisis that we are having in California's Central Valley. This measure puts a number of commonsense ideas on the table to alleviate the severity of today's drought. There is need for a Federal response, because California has a crosscutting network of both State and Federal water projects. With the passage of this bill, I hope the Senate will finally come to the table. If you don't like our idea, come up with one of your own. We have to have storage. We have to have conveyance. We need to plan for the future. There are times when we have wet years, but if we don't store the water, we don't have it for drought years. It is common sense, and it should be bipartisan and it should be bicameral. What I am most proud about on this bill is that you actually have Members from different regions of the State that have come together and said the time is now to finally come together on a solution for what we have and what we are facing today in California's Central Valley. I am thankful to Mr. Valadao for not only bringing this bill up, but for also including my provisions which will create some more water storage, including Los Vaqueros and Exchequer and streamlining construction projects. This bill also includes two of my bills: H.R. 2705, seeking to protect native salmon and steelhead on the Stanislaus River; and H.R. 2554, which would allow 100,000 new acre-feet of storage on New Melones reservoir. We can do simple things to conserve more water. These two measures produce more water and alleviate pressure on supplies, and at no cost to the taxpayer. Yesterday the Senate passed the farm bill, which we passed here last week. Without water, in California, having a farm bill doesn't matter a whole lot if you can't plant the crops that feed the rest of the Nation. I urge my colleagues to pass this bill. The time is now to have a real water solution. Again, if you don't like this one, then come up with one of your own. Let's have some water storage. Let's actually have a dialogue, but let's not shut down residents of the Central Valley or drinking water across the State.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. I thank the gentleman from California. I, as many other Californians at one time, supported the California high-speed rail project. It was initially supposed to be a $33 billion project with equal amounts coming not only from the California taxpayers, in the form of a bond, but also private investors and the Federal Government. Yet this $33 billion project has ballooned up to $100 billion. So what do they do for cost controls? They cut off the very legs that Mr. LaMalfa talked about, the section going to Sacramento, the section going to San Diego; but, still, it is a $68 billion project with a more than $26 billion hole just in the first initial operating segment alone. Tomorrow, as chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, we will be discussing a review of the challenges facing California's high-speed rail. I want to reiterate I believe that high-speed rail is our future. I believe that as a growing economy, with more trucks and goods movement on the road, with more goods movement on rail that we have to look at alternative opportunities to move people. High-speed rail is one of those opportunities. But in Florida, a project that is being done by private investors will have no ongoing subsidy. They need no Federal dollars. Texas will have its own high-speed rail system, again, with private dollars, no ongoing subsidy. Yet here in California, you have a $68 billion project with no private investor, with huge subsidies and overruns, and a project that cannot even get out of the initial gate. So where we are today: California has no money to meet its Federal obligation. On November 14, we had a court decision that came back and said that they cannot spend the $9.95 billion that was approved by voters because they had failed to complete a full business plan. So with no dollars available, the Governor came out this week and said that we are going to use $250 million of the cap-and-trade dollars, cap-and-trade dollars that were supposed to be used for environmentally friendly projects. Yet this project is going to be a net polluter, a net polluter for at least the next 30 years. So how he could come up with a legality of using these cap-and-trade dollars I think is in question. But I think a bigger issue is a timing issue: $180 million is due April 1. The Antideficiency Act says that the State has to have its first set of matches, and that 50/50 match is due April 1. Yet the legislature is not even going to vote on this new budget and this theoretical $250 million in funds until, at the earliest, late June. California budgets usually come in in August, and I think it is a real question on whether liberals and conservatives can agree on whether or not this environmental money will be used on high-speed rail. But specifically on the operating segment, itself, the judge has said not only that they need to come up with the money on this initial construction segment, which stops in Bakersfield--so now we are going to have two sets of rail that stop in Bakersfield, and then you have to get on a bus to get across the Tehachapis. But they don't even have the funding for the initial operating section, which goes all the way to Palmdale. You won't be able to get the speed that they need going around, instead of through, the Tehachapis; and they have a $20 billion funding gap in that first segment. So some real questions: Are they going to meet the timeline of April 1? Is using the cap-and-trade dollars actually legal? And, third, this huge funding gap, where does that money come from? I think the Federal taxpayers across the Nation need to be asking the question, If you are going to subsidize all of California's high-speed rail projects, where do the matching dollars come from? If they could use the $9.95 billion, it is still not enough money. So if California can't come up with the Federal match, what are the teeth that the Federal Government has to be able to hold California up to that Federal obligation? We have some real questions that are going to be coming out tomorrow. The FRA has altered its approach. Once they realized that they couldn't do a 50/50 match, they went to a tapered match. That means that the Federal Government is going to come in with their money first, and then, hopefully, someday the State will come up with its matching dollars in a tapered manner. That tapered manner is coming through April 1. That is when that first $180 million is obligated. But I think the real question is, Who is making these decisions? Did this go all the way up to the President? Was the past Department of Transportation Secretary or the new Department of Transportation Secretary involved in this decision? And if California can't come up with this tapered match, will they, once again, adjust this outside of Congress a second time? So we have some real questions on what those legalities are. The next question would be the contingencies. What are the contingencies for the Federal Government to recoup its taxpayer dollars if California defaults on its obligations? We have some real priorities in California. And as the Central Valley continues to suffer with a drought, as our schools continue to lag behind, as our public safety dollars continue to get robbed, is this the best use of our money? And should we be investing in something that, unlike Texas and Florida, has no private investors, has no State match, has a lot of funding questions that need to be answered before we move forward?

Mr. DENHAM. Well, certainly, one of the big concerns right now is where are these jobs? These were stimulus dollars that were supposed to be ready for shovel-ready projects 5 years ago--5 years ago--and still not one shovel is in the ground. Not one job is created. Now, unlike Texas and Florida that are creating jobs, that are putting the infrastructure in, certainly in California they could come up with a better plan. They could go along the I-5 corridor. They could use the existing rail corridor that has been abandoned. There are other opportunities if they truly want to cut costs. But if they don't want to change, they don't want to revise their budget and they have no private investor, the question still remains, what obligation do you have to go back to the California taxpayer? You are obligating the California taxpayer for nearly $10 billion, and you are not fulfilling the Prop 1A guarantee that they voted on. So, at a certain point, I believe that we have to force the California High-Speed Rail Authority to go back to the voters and seek approval. Change your plans. Go back to the voters and let the voters decide.