Jeff Denham

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

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

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chairman, am I to understand that the amendment before mine is not being brought up?

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chairman, once again, this is the amazing thing about politics. You can have an agreement and support completely the other side's opinion and still have a disagreement only in this House. I support getting this country back in line with our fiscal responsibility. We have a $15 trillion debt, and we've got to do something about it. We have an opportunity to have a bipartisan agreement, one that the President is asking for, one he included in his State of the Union as something to get done. If he cannot get his own party, if he cannot get the Senate to come along with his ideas, how are we the obstructionists? We want to sell properties. We want to sell the noncontroversial properties. Fourteen thousand properties have been identified as excess, underutilized properties that we could be moving immediately. We could be creating billions of dollars to pay down our debt. We could be redeveloping so many of these historic buildings that are sitting empty, creating jobs, getting these properties back on the tax rolls. This is a bipartisan solution that I'm amazed at some of the rhetoric tonight. Again, if the ranking member wants a guarantee, we'll give her a guarantee tonight. Bring up the amendment. We will voice vote it right now and she will have a guarantee it's in the bill. But yet she doesn't want to do it. So I have a separate amendment. If we cannot get the other side of the aisle to present theirs, we will present ours. Again, we've got to get rid of some of this waste, this additional expense--$1.9 billion we pay just in operating costs of these properties we don't use today, properties that are sitting vacant. If Republicans and Democrats can't agree that an empty building that's not being used, that has no reason to be used in the future, cannot be eliminated to reduce our debt, the real question is: What can we agree on? This is the most simple of deficit reduction plans. This is one the President has asked for multiple times. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DENHAM. At this time, Mr. Chairman, I'd like to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly).

Mr. DENHAM. Reclaiming my time, I have a second amendment just in case, unfortunately, trust leaves this room. In the unfortunate case that somebody does not offer their amendment, I've got my own. But I am happy to withdraw my amendment and voice vote her amendment right here so it's in the bill and we have a bipartisan agreement. I'm not sure what the concern is. You want a guarantee? Here is a guarantee, let's do it, bipartisan. Let's get unanimous support out of this House and show the American people we can agree on cutting waste, we can agree on creating jobs, we can agree on selling some of the things we just don't need. Parliamentary Inquiry

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chairman, we're talking a lot around this issue. The gentlelady wants a guarantee. Let me give her a guarantee. She can bring her amendment up right now; we'll do it on a voice vote. It will be in the text of the bill within 30 minutes, and that is exactly what we will be voting on tomorrow. It's very simple. We have the votes. We want the amendment. We want the Democrat support and want this to be a bipartisan bill. So all she has to do is bring up the amendment right now, we'll voice vote it, and it will be part of the bill. So now really the question is, do you or don't you want the bill?

Mr. DENHAM. I yield the gentleman 1 additional minute.

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 1734 is drafted to ensure there is a streamlined process to sell or redevelop high-value assets. H.R. 1734 preserves our parks and open spaces by explicitly exempting them from the process outlined in the bill. Despite this, the amendment by the gentleman from Virginia would give the General Services Administration extraordinary authority to take valuable properties off the table and set them aside. This amendment would give GSA veto authority over the President, over Congress by allowing GSA to remove properties after recommendations are approved. The legislation includes opportunities for State and local governments to receive properties in the process, and the commission will include expertise in community development. Those considerations would be included in the recommendations submitted to the President and Congress. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DENHAM. I yield the gentleman another 1 minute.

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chairman, just to quickly respond, let me first say thank you to the ranking member of the subcommittee. We have worked on this bill for a year. We agreed on language. We accepted the administration's language and worked with OMB on making sure that this was a bill that not only passed with bipartisan support but was something that the Senate would welcome and the President would sign. So it's been a good year. We've worked very well together, I think, on the issue up until this point. And I know that it became somewhat contentious in committee because we had several different properties listed in the bill to help pay for and make sure that this was a pay-as-you-go bill. We pulled those out in an effort to create bipartisanship and to make sure that those issues that the other side of the aisle wanted addressed were addressed, but we went a step further. As the ranking member of the committee asked for several different amendments, we agreed to those amendments. The environmental issue, we agreed to her amendment. Even though OMB had suggested that they didn't want lawsuits to apply, we went ahead and, in a sense of bipartisanship, wanted to agree to the ranking member's amendment on this. As well, the homeless, we agreed to a $2 million exemption to make sure the homeless were well taken care of. That was changed to $3 million. We agreed to that. It was changed to $5 million. We agreed to that as well, even though I can't imagine the homeless wanting to utilize a $5 million piece of property--it seems somewhat excessive-- but in a true spirit of bipartisanship, we agreed. I keep my word. I will continue to support the ranking member's amendment on the floor today. As well, I have included it in my amendment. I stand by my word, and I hope others on this floor would do the same. At this time, Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), the former chairman of the subcommittee.

Mr. DENHAM. In reclaiming my time, I support the amendment, and look forward to bipartisan support on the bill tomorrow morning. This is something that taxpayers need. This is something that will help us to reduce our debt in a way in which Republicans and Democrats can come together and work on something on a bipartisan level and actually give something back to the President that he is asking for. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the gentleman from Missouri for his work on this amendment. Just as we saw the other Democratic amendment pass through on a voice vote, I assume we're going to see this one pass through on a voice vote as well, making both amendments actually language in the bill. That could've been done a couple of other times tonight. We want to make sure we have got a bipartisan bill, that both parties can agree that we want to get rid of waste, that we want to get rid of properties we just don't need, and that we actually run a more efficient government. But specifically on this amendment, again I'd like to thank the gentleman from Missouri for his work on this. This amendment would ensure that the General Services Administration accounts for the total cost in the design or lease of a building. Very often GSA makes decisions that bind the taxpayer to significant financial obligations when procuring space. And unfortunately, currently GSA's analyses do not take into account the total life-cycle cost of the taxpayer investment. This amendment would correct this. I support the adoption of this amendment as I've supported other adoptions tonight.

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chairman, I would like to claim the time in opposition even though I'm not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chairman, we have no objection to the amendment.

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon to talk about a jobs bill that just passed out of the Rules Committee and will be on the House floor next week. H.R. 1734 is a bill that will address all of our civilian properties across the Nation, things we don't need, identifying property that can be redeveloped. Let me just give you one example of something that is happening right here in the District of Columbia. The Old Post Office, which will be redeveloped, keeping it in its historic fashion, will create 150 jobs just in the construction phase of redevelopment and another 150 ongoing jobs. If you want to be able to get the Republicans and Democrats to come together on a jobs bill, here is a fantastic opportunity, one that will bring in billions of dollars of new revenue from the sale of properties, will cut waste and get rid of a lot of the expense that we have in ongoing properties every year and, ultimately, get Americans back to work. It is truly a bipartisan proposal, something I'm looking forward to seeing on the floor next week.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor former California State University Stanislaus Director of Athletics, Dr. Milton Richards, who in November 2011, after 12 years as the Director of Athletics at the California State University Stanislaus, announced he was leaving to take a position as Athletic Director at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. He intends to lead Simon Fraser University on their journey to becoming a full-fledged member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA). He is guided by the belief that intercollegiate athletics is an integral part of the overall mission of the university, and that a successful intercollegiate athletics and recreation program for men and women contributes substantially to campus life and community interaction. While at CSU Stanislaus, Dr. Richards and his staff took Warrior Athletics to new heights among the Nation's NCAA DII elite intercollegiate athletics programs. During his time at CSU Stanislaus, student-athletes graduated at a rate higher than the general student body while maintaining a stellar 3.0 class room grade point average as a group. Other accomplishments by Dr. Richards, his coaches, student- athletes, and friends of the program during Richard's tenure at CSU Stanislaus include: More than 355 student-athletes were named to all-conference, all- region, and All-American honors, as well as receiving accolades as all academic student-athletes at various levels. 24 Warrior Athletics teams participated in NCAA postseason play. More than $6 million dollars was secured in private funds for the Intercollegiate Athletics program. Three separate student fee referendums were passed by CSU Stanislaus students in support of the Athletics program, including the referendum for the recently completed $16 million state-of-the-art Student Recreation Complex, and two additional referendums to support Warrior Athletics. Prior to joining CSU Stanislaus, Dr. Richards served as Director of Athletics at the State University of New York at Albany. In this capacity, Dr. Richards provided the needed leadership to move the Albany Intercollegiate Athletics program from NCAA DIII classification to NCAA Division I status. A native of Liverpool, New York, Dr. Richards worked in Division IA athletics for 11 years at Kansas State University and Temple University. As Director of Athletics at Kansas State, Dr. Richards was responsible for an athletics program which totaled 14 sports with an $8.5 million budget. Under his leadership, the program reached new heights in athletic fundraising. From 1982-1991, Dr. Richards enjoyed a nine-year association with Temple University, a Division IA institution in Philadelphia. He spent six of those years as Associate Athletics Director, a position that included the job of Chief Financial Officer. In that role, he managed all of the administrative and operational aspects for the Temple University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. At Temple University, Dr. Richards also served as an adjunct faculty member for the Temple University College of Education teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in Education Administration. Dr. Richards is completing a second five-year term as a member of the West Virginia University School of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences President's Visiting Committee. The Visiting Committee is an advisory board established to provide input to WVU President James Clements and College Dean Dana Brooks, on all matters related to the college. Dr. Richards is a member the West Virginia University Hall of Fame and earned three degrees from WVU, including an Ed.D (1983), a MS (1982), and a BS (1980). He has also authored several articles on issues related to intercollegiate athletics. Dr. Richards is the father of two children--Milton Chase, a nursing student at West Virginia University, and Megan Brittany, a senior at WVU. He is married to former CSU Stanislaus Hall of Fame student- athlete Amy Bublak, who is a law enforcement officer with the Modesto Police Department. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring and commending the outstanding contributions made to intercollegiate athletics by Dr. Milton Richards and hereby wish him continued success in his new journey.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. This month is the 35th consecutive month under this administration's economic policies where we're over 8 percent unemployment. If you look at an area like mine in California's central valley, we have been double that for that same time period. Sixteen to 20 percent unemployment is unacceptable. We need to be pushing policies that will change this, not only for the central valley but across the entire Nation. Now, I'm a small business owner, and I will tell you from my perspective, the trillion dollar stimulus package, the government takeover of health care, the Dodd-Frank bill, are all things that have created uncertainty in my business. But in the central valley, I'm also a farmer. And as a farmer, regulations like the dust act that creates uncertainties where we're not allowed to have dust in a farming scenario, I can't shake the almonds off my almond trees. I can't even grow almonds in the central valley. I can't put a plow into the ground because tilling the dirt will create dust. The regulations of uncertainty keep jobs from being created in the central valley. As well as water. Without water, we cannot grow the crops that we need to feed the rest of the Nation or the rest of the world. The water and the regulations that prohibit the water from getting to our farms create the uncertainty year in and year out. But looking long term, we need to have the policies that allow us to have off-stream storage that will have greater water storage, greater certainty so that we know we're going to have a consistent flow of water throughout California's central valley year in and year out. Once again, we would call on the President. It's fine to come to our great State and visit L.A. and San Francisco, even visit a coastline in San Diego, but California's central valley--the bread basket of the world--where we're creating greater agricultural commodities than many other regions not only in the United States but across the world, we would ask the President to come and understand the uniqueness of the central valley and some of the battles that we face. This also comes at a time where next week we're going to see the 1,000th day since we've had a budget, the most fundamental responsibility of the Federal Government, of the President, of Congress, without a budget. This is going to be a President that fails to have a budget in his entire first term. A thousand days is coming quickly. And that same type of uncertainty, whether it's a business that is forced to have a budget every year or a family that is forced to have a budget, our Federal Government needs to have a budget as well. I think that we need to look at the bottom line of getting both Houses of Congress to work together. Whether it's job creation or actually having a budget, it's incumbent on both Houses to work together and find solutions. Now, I'm one Member that is providing a solution dealing with our Civilian Property Realignment Act, selling the things that we just don't need, utilizing properties like the post office right down the street here that costs us $6\1/2\ million every year to maintain yet sits vacant for well over a decade. We have many people who want to redevelop it; 150 jobs just in redeveloping that one site, another 150 jobs ongoing once that site is redeveloped. Now, isn't that a bipartisan solution that not only solves a problem with bringing in revenue but also getting rid of the cost of something that just is not needed, a cost that we don't need to bear the expense of? At the same time, if you want new tax revenue, let's put it back on the tax rolls or find a bipartisan solution where we can come together, get Republicans and Democrats, the House and the Senate to agree on something that will create jobs, that will cut the cost of doing business and bring in new revenues. It is time that the Senate works with the House. We have 27 bills sitting over there that deal with job creation, all aspects, whether it's the credit and financial markets or making sure that we're cutting regulations to end some of the challenges that we're facing in the central valley, but we have to get both Houses to work together. We would call on the President. Visit California's central valley. Prepare a budget that can be passed by both Houses. This country is hurting right now, and we need real leadership that will bridge that gap.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge that the last patient cared for by Tuolumne General Hospital (TGH), also known as the Tuolumne General Medical Facility, was transferred out on November 23, 2011. With the transfer of that patient, a proud 162-year history of service to the residents of Tuolumne County was brought to an end. The beginning of Tuolumne General Hospital dates back to about 1849. Plans for a public hospital began on November 7, 1849, when the citizens of Sonora saw a need to establish a hospital for the sick and the destitute of the county. The first facility in Tuolumne County consisted of a canvas tent erected on the hill near the present courthouse in 1849. In November of that year, a wooden structure with a canvas roof was constructed to serve as a hospital at a cost of $542. Patients occupied berths along the walls and were nursed by a male steward who received $4 per day for his services. A hospital was established near the Roman Catholic Church in June, 1851. Two months later, another hospital was established on Washington Street. No permanent arrangements had been made by the City or County for the care of indigent patients, until a law was enacted that authorized the County Board of Supervisors to levy a special tax to raise funds for the care of indigent persons. In 1854, with funds raised by the special tax, the County Board of Supervisors called for bids to provide hospital and medical services for indigent patients. The contract was awarded to Drs. William T. Browne and Thomas Kendall on their low bid of $25 per week, per patient. The bid price included furnishing the hospital facility, food, bedding, medicine, and their professional services. In 1856, the Board of Supervisors again called for bids to provide hospital and medical services. At that time, the state began to make funds available to counties for indigent care with the specification that any physicians employed were required to have medical degrees. As a result, the call for bids specified that the contracting physician had to be a ``graduate of a legally incorporated medical college.'' The new two-year contract was awarded to Dr. Francis Canton, a well- educated French physician, and his associate, Dr. Georfe Manning, a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. The contract price was only $9 per week per patient, but it specified that the County would be responsible for the burial expense of unfortunate patients. In addition, the contracting doctors were allowed to take in private patients. In 1861, the County Supervisors decided to purchase their own hospital. A building was secured on the northwest corner of Lyons and Shepherd Streets, now part of the China Town parking lot. After a decade of use, the building was no longer suitable. In 1873, the County purchased the old Lewis C. Gunn residence located on the west side of South Washington Street. The building was remodeled and enlarged substantially and made suitable for patients according to the standards of that period. The most noted physician-in-charge was Dr. William Eikelroth. Dr. Eikelroth installed a hand pump on the only well near the hospital at his own expense (about $19) and then had to sue the County to get reimbursed. By the mid-1870's, water was made available to most parts of the hospital and facilities were installed where patients could take either hot or cold baths and wash their clothing and bedding. In 1897, a new county hospital was constructed at the south end of Sonora where the present TGH is located. Necessitated by Tuolumne County's second gold rush during the mid-1890's, most of the hospital's early facilities were geared for male occupants only. Females were generally cared for in private homes, although a facility for their care was operated on the north side of South Washington Street during a period when the county hospital was located in the old Gunn Building. Over the next 80 years the hospital continued to grow and in 1984, a major modernization project was completed which included the expansion of the Emergency Room, Radiology Department, Pharmacy, Intensive Care Unit, Recovery Room, and several support services. The next year, TGH started Health Promotion Programs and in 1987 the Adult Day Health Care Center opened, the Primary Care Clinics opened, and they began a Prenatal Program to serve the over 100 women per year that would not be seen by the OB/Gyn physicians. Additionally, the TGH Foundation was formed. During the 1990's, several additional changes took place: the first Satellite Adult Day Health Care Center in California was opened; Dr. Eric Runte was recruited as the first full-time physician director of the Primary Care Clinic; the hospital became affiliated with Visiting Home Nurses & Hospice of the Sierra; and the facility opened a Rehab Center in Groveland and began year-round low-cost mammography. In 1997, they signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UC Davis Health System to form a partnership. On Tuesday, April 10, 2007, Tuolumne County's Board of Supervisors voted to close Tuolumne General Hospital's acute care services, hand off its clinics to a private operator, and phase out its psychiatric and long-term care units over the following three years. At midnight on June 30, 2007, Tuolumne General Hospital ceased all acute services. The name of the hospital changed to Tuolumne General Medical Facility. On March 4, 2008, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Board of Supervisors and Avalon Healthcare to transfer the 42 Long Term Care residents to Avalon Healthcare, once they completed an addition to their existing facility. On January 2, 2009, the Acute Psychiatric Unit was closed. A new Memorandum of Understanding was developed with Avalon Healthcare to build a 90-bed addition to their existing building. In June 2010, Avalon celebrated the ground breaking of their new addition. In December, Avalon was contracted to oversee and manage Tuolumne General's Dietary Department. All Tuolumne General dietary staff was hired by Avalon, and the residents from the Long Term Care Unit were transferred upon completion of the addition at Avalon. With that, Tuolumne General Medical Facility closed its doors ending a 162-year history of providing excellent healthcare in Tuolumne County. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring the contributions of Tuolumne General Hospital to the community of Tuolumne County.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor fallen Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Investigator Mary Ann Donahou. CSI Donahou's end of watch came on December 30, 2011, while in the line of duty gathering evidence at a crime scene. While assisting a deputy, she was struck by a vehicle. Mary was deeply committed to her profession--one that she put her whole heart into. CSI Donahou wore her badge with pride, loved her job, and loved serving the community. Mary Ann was born on August 20, 1965, in Ceres, California, and she graduated from Downey High School in 1983. In December of 1999, Mary Ann was blessed with the love of her life, her son Jake. In 2002, she began her career at the Sheriff's Department as a legal clerk in the county jail. She was later promoted to Community Service Officer in 2005, followed by a 2007 promotion to Crime Scene Investigator. Mary Ann served the Sheriff's Office with honor and distinction. Mary Ann was the epitome of a public servant. She always strived for excellence and had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and self- improvement in the field of forensics and crime scene investigation. She was a shining example of what an employee of the Sheriff's Office should be: competent and courageous, tenacious and tough, brave and dedicated, yet understanding and compassionate to those who needed a helping hand. Mary Ann was also an active community member; she was a den mother for the cub scouts, did local charity work, and loved supporting local sports organizations. Mary Ann received multiple commendations from peers, supervisors and citizens, including recognition for her forensic work leading to the arrest and conviction of those who victimize the innocent. In one of her many cases, Mary Ann was assisting the Robbery-Homicide Team in taking crime scene photographs for two different search warrant locations. She maintained a positive attitude despite the very detailed and complex case. Even after a long, hard day at work, she still took the time to talk to the neighborhood children who were curious about what she was doing. She showed them her equipment, how to look for latent fingerprint evidence, and told them all about Crime Scene Investigators. This is reflective of Mary's character and her dedicated service to the Sheriff's Office and the community. Mary Ann was a loving mother, sister, daughter, aunt, and cousin. Her smile lit up the room and her laughter was contagious. Her grace, beauty, friendship, humor, intelligence and compassion were all attributes that made her so endearing. Mary Ann is survived by her son Jake Lewis Hassler; her parents Janice and Robert Pence and Jack and Mary Donahou; her sisters Jennifer Horne, Melinda Donahou-Sneed, Lori Donahou, and Teresa Brockman; her loving companion Eugene Day; three nieces; four nephews; and six great- nephews. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring and remembering the outstanding contributions made to law enforcement by Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Investigator Mary Ann Donahou. The life of Mary Ann serves as an example of excellence to those in our community, and her legacy will not be soon forgotten.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor Darlene Hieb, who rose through the ranks to become the Director of Nursing at Tuolumne General Hospital and announced her retirement, after 30 years of service, at the end of December 2011. There are no words to adequately describe Darlene's quality of character, competence, and the contributions she made to Tuolumne General Hospital and the community. Throughout her county career, Darlene has been the model of quality care, love, compassion, and loyalty to both her patients and staff. She has exemplified the best of what has been offered at Tuolumne General Hospital. Darlene Hieb was born with a heart for nursing and a calling to care for people. Indeed, her education and 37-year professional career as a nurse bear this out. After graduation from Lodi Union High School, Darlene proceeded to earn an A.A. degree in Pre-Nursing and a B.S. degree in Nursing. Darlene also obtained her license as a Registered Nurse (RN) and numerous certifications, the most notable as a Mobile Intensive Care Nurse (MICN) and Nurse Administrator. After receiving her Bachelor's degree and RN license, Darlene worked as an RN for the Los Banos Community Hospital for four-and-a-half years and at the Huntington Intercommunity Hospital for two-and-a-half years. Darlene Hieb started her career at Tuolumne General Hospital as a Relief RN II on February 3, 1982. She continued to serve as an RN II until January 1986, when she was promoted to a Head Nurse position. Darlene was later promoted to Nursing Services Manager and then to Director of Nursing--the position she has held since October 15, 1995. Since the decision was made to close Tuolumne General, Darlene's importance to the organization grew even greater. When others might have left, Darlene rose to the occasion and committed to stay as the recognized leader of the hospital throughout the major transitions to come. She will long be remembered as the heart and soul of Tuolumne General during that season of the hospital's life. It is hard to imagine how the phased closure could have happened in such a professional, caring, and financially responsible manner without her. Through it all, Darlene was able to inspire and engender the loyalty of her staff to maintain the quality of care Tuolumne General had long been known for until its last day of operation. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring and commending the outstanding career dedicated to the care of people and the standard of excellence brought to Tuolumne General Hospital by Darlene Hieb, and hereby wish her continued success in her retirement.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians for the integral part they played in bringing the 2011 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree to Washington, DC. Since 1970, it has become an honor for one of the National Forests to be asked to provide the Capitol Tree. The appointed National Forest, in turn, engages help from diverse partners throughout its respective State. The opportunity to provide the Capitol Christmas Tree becomes a state-wide celebration and civic event, leaving a lasting impression on all who are fortunate enough to be involved. 2011 is only the fourth time California has contributed the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, the last time was in 1995. Known as ``The People's Tree,'' the 2011 Capitol Christmas Tree was harvested from the Stanislaus National Forest located in the Central Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians performed a blessing of the tree prior to it being harvested. The members of the tribe cut and laid the tree down on a special cradle without breaking a branch in the frigid 17 degree weather. In addition to assisting with the harvesting and blessing of the 2011 Capitol Christmas Tree, the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians also harvested and blessed their own tree. The 20-foot tall White Spruce was hand-picked by the Elders to be donated to the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. It is the first time that a Native American tribe from California has donated a tree to the museum. It traveled 4,280 miles from California to Washington, DC making 23 stops along the way. At two of the stops, the Me-Wuk's had tribal gift exchanges with two other Indian tribes. The tree's arrival received international press and showed the rest of the world that our nation has the freedom to celebrate a religious holiday at the Capitol. A notable moment for the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians was being able to perform a tribal dance in the Library of Congress. Their performance marks the first time that a Native American tribe has danced in the historic building. The dancers that participated were Robert Millis, Louis Millis, Robert Burciaga, Miguel Campos, Joey Guinn, Shanta Millis, Tricia Guinn, Heather Palmer, Darla Berg, Janell Lavell, Melissa Wiest, Lucy Parker, and Ursula Jones. Special Recognition should be extended to Reba Fuller, the Tuolumne Band of Me- Wuk Indians Government Specialist, who worked tirelessly on the project and traveled with the tree until it was properly placed. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring and commending the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians for their historic journey with the 2011 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor the Summerville High School Jazz @ 8 Advanced Jazz Choir for their exceptional performance at the 2011 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. The Jazz @ 8 Advanced Jazz Choir has a 30-year history of outstanding performances. This year, the 18-member group is comprised of 10 girls and 8 boys, ranging from sophomores to seniors. The members, Camille Berringer, Adria Britton, Ian Britton, Joaquin David, Tonysha Hadden, Justin Jones, Kai Kellerman, Karissa Kirkle, Max Kohl, Sam Kohl, Charlie McClung, Hank Miller, Maeve Moriarty, Mikayla Murry, Morgan Murry, Rebekah O'Kelley, Aubreana Woodworth, and Autumn Worden are students of Summerville High School and the Connections Visual and Performing Arts Academy. This educational facility was established 10 years ago on the Summerville campus to support the interests of students in visual and performing arts. Jazz @ 8 is directed by Madeline Young, the vocal music and drama director and teacher. Throughout the school year, this group performs at many community and school events, including parades, veteran ceremonies, luncheons for service groups, benefit dinners, and at local football and basketball games. The invitation to perform in Washington D.C. was a distinguished honor, and the students rehearsed every day to prepare. Accompanying the group to Washington, D.C. was Diana Harford, Principal of the Connections Visual and Performing Arts Academy and David Urquhart, Principal of Summerville High School. The Tuolumne County community, which is a small, rural community in the Sierra Nevada foothills of central California, was enormously generous and supportive of the students, the program and the school, providing the entire funding for the students to be able to make this once in a lifetime trip. In a very short amount of time, generous contributions ranging from $20 to over $6,000 were received to raise the $20,000 to cover all the costs for the four-day trip. Large donors include Summerville High School Foundation, Sonora Area Foundation, Black Hats, and Black Oak Casino. In addition to the tree lighting performance, the talented group of young adults performed at the White House for two hours during public tours and the Library of Congress during the 2011 Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony reception hosted by the California State Society and sponsored by Southern California Edison. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring and commending the Summerville High School Jazz @ 8 Advanced Jazz Choir on this accomplishment, and for representing the city and county of Tuolumne in such a positive light.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor Stanislaus National Forest Service for supplying the 2011 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. No season generates more enthusiasm, heightened sense of good will, deeper traditions, and economic benefits than the annual Christmas season, and the Stanislaus National Forest Service provided the single and most beautiful symbol of the season--the Christmas Tree. This year, Speaker of the House John Boehner hosted the tree lighting ceremony on the West Front Lawn of the United States Capitol Building on Tuesday, December 6. Seven-year-old Johnny Crawford from Sonora, California was the lucky child who flipped the switch and turned on the 10,000 LED lights that illuminated the tree. Since 1970, it has become an honor for one of the National Forests to be asked to provide the Capitol Tree. The appointed National Forest, in turn, engages help from diverse partners throughout its respective State. The opportunity to provide the Capitol Christmas Tree becomes a state-wide celebration and civic event, leaving a lasting impression on all who are fortunate enough to be involved. 2011 is only the fourth time California has provided the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree--the last time was in 1995. Known as ``The People's Tree,'' the 2011 Capitol Christmas Tree was harvested from the Stanislaus National Forest located in the Central Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Forest Service recommended 15 trees to the Superintendent of the U.S. Capitol Grounds, Ted Bechtel, in late August of 2011. He made his final decision after a good night's sleep. Several aspects are taken into account during the selection, including the shape and fullness of the tree, the tree color and foliage condition, and species characteristics of needle retention and branch pliability. Of course, access to the tree for ease of cutting, loading, and transporting are also considered. This year's 118-year-old Sierra White Fir tree is 63 feet tall. It weighs 8,300 pounds and traveled 4,280 miles from California to Washington, D.C. Along the way, it made 23 stops; 13 in California and 11 across the nation. An additional 100 companion trees were delivered to the capital and placed in federal offices and congressional offices. They also transported the tree donated by the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians to the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. The tree's arrival received international press and showed the rest of the world that our nation has the freedom to celebrate a religious holiday at the Capitol. In addition, the Stanislaus National Forest Service held a Statewide Song Search and Art Contest. They collected 2,500 outdoor and 2,200 indoor Christmas ornaments made by Californians for the Tree. The use of recycled and natural materials was encouraged. Also, they conducted a food drive for Gallup, New Mexico, the third poorest city in the nation. The statewide food drive involved several food banks from throughout the state that donated a pallet of food as well as collected food at every stop made in California. The food was transported to Gallup, New Mexico, and the community was very appreciative of the more than 14 pallets of food that the team delivered on November 16. The Stanislaus National Forest also coordinated all the donations to fund the harvesting, transport, and tour of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. Additionally, there were many that assisted in the momentous occasion that made it possible. Special recognition should go to Maria Benech, 2011 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Coordinator, who worked tirelessly on the project. Central Sierra Arts Council helped with the statewide song search and Art Competition. Gini Siebert of Out of Hand helped create over 1,000 clay ornaments for the Tree and the indoor trees by garnering donations from Sonora businesses to pay for classroom art projects. The Sonora Garden Club made the 48 sprays that were given as gifts at each community the Tree visited across the United States. Fire on the Mountain were critical in the November 5 Tree Cutting Celebration in Sonora. Mark Patton, Frank Gilbeau, and Danny Hess cut and laid the Tree down on the special cradle without breaking a branch in the 17 degree weather. The City of Sonora hosted a parade and escort on November 5. And finally, Cal Trans and CHP who helped the Stanislaus National Forest Service move the tree from Point A to Barstow. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring and commending the Stanislaus National Forest Service for a job well done in supplying the 2011 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.