Jeff Denham

Mr. DENHAM

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

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chairman, in 1994, Congress enacted the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act, or F4A, to prevent States from undermining Federal deregulation of interstate commerce through a patchwork of State regulations. Since 1994, motor carriers have been operating under the Federal meal and rest break standards until a ruling by the California Ninth Circuit Court. This amendment would remedy that issue. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Costello).

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chairman, how much time do I have remaining?

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman from Oregon. He was here in 1994 when Speaker Foley pushed this issue through. He understands the issue. While his language did not fully address the issue, we are going to continue to work together to resolve this as this amendment moves forward. I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown).

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chairman, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Walker).

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Stewart).

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

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. DeFazio and Mr. Capuano for working with us on title VII of this bill, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety Improvement Act of 2015. Hazardous materials are the backbone of our industrial society, and these products are transported by all modes, used in every State, and distributed worldwide. This title will significantly enhance the safety of moving these products. First, the title will significantly strengthen the safety of crude- by-rail shipments. After pushing DOT for years to update their regulations to make these train movements safer, DOT finally issued final regulations in May. However, the rule fell short in several areas, and, therefore, we have included several provisions to fix their shortcomings. We require all new tank cars carrying flammable liquids to have a thermal blanket, something DOT failed to do, something that is new in this bill. We also require the railroads to create oil spill emergency response plans similar to what pipeline operators are required to do. Additionally, we ensure that railroads continue to provide States and local emergency responders with information on crude-by-rail shipments within their States. Further, we included a provision at markup that fixes a loophole that would allow more than 35,000 legacy DOT-111 tank cars to remain in service in perpetuity. This provision will require those cars be upgraded to increase the safety of our railroads. I believe it will significantly improve the safety of hazardous materials transportation, particularly the crude-by-rail shipments. Improving safety of crude-by-rail has been one of my top priorities as chairman of the Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee, and I am pleased to be moving these provisions forward. We also make significant improvements to DOT's hazardous materials safety and grant programs. We streamline and speed up the special permits and approvals process to give industry more certainty. We also reform an underutilized grant program to help States train more emergency responders and better plan for incidents. Separately, this bill includes reforms that I have long championed and is based on legislation I authored, the NEPA Reciprocity Act. Local governments in States with environmental laws equal to or more stringent than NEPA will have the ability to complete one comprehensive environmental review. This will eliminate duplicative environmental reviews and save millions of dollars and years in project delivery time while still ensuring appropriate steps are taken to mitigate the environmental impact. This reform is bipartisan and supported by the National Association of Counties. Finally, an amendment I offered in committee is included in this. It encourages the development of pollinator habitat along roadsides and rights-of-way. Pollinators are essential to a vibrant and productive farm industry and for the health and welfare of our Nation's food supply. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the good, bipartisan reforms in this legislation. Again, I want to thank Chairman Shuster, Ranking Member DeFazio, and Ranking Member Capuano for the many improvements to this bill.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor today to introduce to the House our guest chaplain, Bishop Mar Awa Royel. Bishop Royel currently presides over the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East's Diocese of California and serves as Secretary of the Holy Synod. He was consecrated as a Bishop in 2008 and is the first American-born Bishop of the Assyrian Church of the East. Bishop Royel is one of five trustees of the Assyrian Church of the East Relief Organization. He is also the president of the Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Educational Development. I have been honored to know Bishop Royel and work with him to help raise awareness of the plight of Assyrians in the Middle East who are facing unspeakable violence and persecution. Many Central Valley residents have family members who are suffering under ISIL's campaign of terror. I am thankful for Bishop Royel's efforts. Bishop Royel is a gifted speaker, esteemed author, and leader of California's large and faithful Assyrian community. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in welcoming him today. We thank him for offering this afternoon's opening prayer in the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. I thank Chairman Shuster, Ranking Member DeFazio, and Ranking Member Capuano for working with us to develop this important piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, this legislation would ensure that railroads actually implement positive train control. We need to do it as quickly as possible and as safely as possible for the safety of our country. As chairman of the Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee, we have been monitoring the railroads' progress in implementing PTC, positive train control, including holding a hearing in June that brought stakeholders in from across the country so as to understand exactly what the impacts are. We have known for some time that most railroads simply won't be done with positive train control implementation by the end of this year. Now, several different things went into the delays of this, one of which is the FCC, where you have two government agencies not working together to get the tens of thousands of poles permitted so that they could actually have the communication interface. PTC is a huge undertaking, requiring 38,000 wayside interfaces be installed along 60,000 miles of track. In addition, 18,000 locomotives need to be upgraded and 12,000 signals need to be replaced. All of these elements need to be seamlessly communicated across different railroads. But what is important here is that we actually have benchmarks in place on implementation, that we have reporting on the progress and enforcement of the metrics throughout the entire extension. We need to make sure that this gets done right and that it gets done quickly. Given this obvious need for an extension, a few weeks ago, Chairman Shuster and I, with Ranking Members DeFazio and Capuano, introduced a 3-year PTC extension. This bipartisan piece of legislation has garnered over 130 coauthors. Additionally, more than 200 stakeholders have signed letters to the Transportation Committee who support a PTC extension. Just to give you a few examples from California: If we don't extend the PTC deadline, the Altamont Corridor Express commuter rail service will shut down, putting more commuters on California's congested highways. In the Central Valley, farmers will be negatively impacted, as farmers rely on rail for their fertilizers and our dairies and our cattle yards depend on feed that only comes in on rail. That is why the California Farm Bureau Federation and the California League of Wheat Growers are supporting a PTC extension deadline. Those are just a few examples of broad and wide agreement among railroads, shippers, and consumers that Congress should pass this legislation. In conclusion, we have worked in a bipartisan manner with our Senate counterparts to develop this legislation, and I believe this bill will ensure that PTC gets done as soon as possible and as safely as possible.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, on behalf of myself and Congressman McClintock to acknowledge and honor Dan Jensen who announced his retirement as President of Delaware North at Yosemite. In that position, he is responsible for overseeing lodging, food service, retail, transportation and guest recreation in Yosemite National Park provided under contract to the National Park Service. Born and raised in Visalia, a central California community, located in a rich agricultural region, Dan attended college at UC Riverside and graduated in 1971 with a Bachelors of Arts in Economics. In addition he holds an MBA from University of California, Los Angeles. Immediately after graduating, he joined the Los Angeles office of Price Waterhouse, the world's largest professional services firm, where he worked in the audit services division. In 1993, Dan began his career in the theme park industry as the executive vice president and general manager of Universal Studios in Florida. He was instrumental in the expansion of the major resort destination which included a second theme park, three themed hotels and a nighttime entertainment complex known as City Walk. In 2001, Dan's theme park career went overseas, where he became the executive vice president and chief operating officer of the newly opened park Universal Studios in Japan. During Dan's time with Universal Studios Japan, it had the most successful first year of operations in the history of theme parks. Participating in a cultural exchange program in Russia in 1998, gave Dan the opportunity to visit various national parks throughout Russia. The purpose was to gain valuable insight into business and social issues that would contribute to improved funding for Russia's national park system. This made him an ideal candidate for his extensive role as President of Delaware North located near one of California's most established National Parks. Having worked for the previous concessioner from 1979 to 1992 in various financial and operational roles, Dan returned to Yosemite in 2006 as President of Delaware North at Yosemite. The global leading company's operations in Yosemite includes 1,350 hotel rooms, 21 food service operations and 16 retail locations as well as a variety of recreational activities. Despite Dan's extensive work load, he finds the time to be an active participant in the community of Yosemite. He was on the board of trustees and the council of the Yosemite Conservancy, chairman of the Yosemite/Mariposa Tourism Bureau and a member of the University of California at Merced Board of trustees. Dan is an active supporter of NatureBridge, an educational nonprofit organization that provides outdoor environmental education in Yosemite as well as other national parks. Dan and his wife Susan, parents of two now adult children, reside in the Yosemite Valley. Mr. Speaker, please join Congressman McClintock and I in honoring and commending the outstanding contributions made to Yosemite by the President of Delaware North, Dan Jensen. We wish him continued success in his retirement.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor the lives of a well-known and beloved couple in the Escalon community, Peter and Sheila Arellano. They passed away within a year of each other. Sheila on October 7, 2014 and Peter on June 14, 2015. Peter, fondly known as ``Chessie'' to his friends and family, grew up in Sonora, California where he was noted as a star athlete. After graduating from high school, Peter enlisted in the United States Air Force during WWII. He was stationed in the South Pacific, Australia, New Guinea, the Philippines, and Europe where he spent several years diligently and courageously serving our Country. After returning from WWII, he graduated from San Jose State to begin a career teaching and coaching. He also served in his local Lions Club for over 65 years in various positions from Past President to Chairman. He was Stockton County Fair Escalon Exhibit Co-Chair for over 20 years. He also started the Peter Arellano Athletic Scholarship and he previously hosted the Peter Arellano Athletic Scholarship Golf Tournament to raise money for scholar athletes from Escalon High School. Peter married the love of his life, Sheila, and together they moved to Escalon, California where they lived for over 58 years. Pete continued his passion for teaching at Escalon High School. Sheila proudly worked as the assistant editor for the Escalon Times. Sheila also served as President of the Chamber of Commerce for two terms, member of the Historian Society, Escalon City Committee, Red Hats, Catholic YLI, Actor in Readers Theater, retired teacher aide at Den Elementary and El Portal Middle School, Escalon Soroptimist Group, and Stockton Country Fair Escalon Exhibit Chair for over 20 years. She started the Escalon Low Vision Support Group, hosted bingo lunch with seniors twice a month, and continued to be an acting Ambulance board member. The community honored them as Mr. and Mrs. Escalon because of their immense participation and contributions. They have left a permanent mark on the Escalon Community. Both were inspiring human beings even in the face of difficult times. Sheila endured two bouts of breast cancer, kidney failure, heart attacks, and blindness due to macular degeneration. Despite all this, she maintained a smile on her face and a high spirit of gratitude. Pete's energy was just as contagious, and it allowed for them to be confident together. Both lived life the way it should be lived; they enjoyed the simple things and made the most of their time together every day. Family was central to the Arellanos and they loved their family above all else. They are survived by their three children George Arellano, Tina Jensen and Bahrt Arellano; seven grandchildren Kim Theisen, Craig Berchtold, Holly Page, Heidi Rech, Jeremy Jensen, Cortez Arellano, Vincent Arellano; and eight great-grandchildren Kelsie Theisen, Callie Theisen, Trenton Berchtold, Emma Berchtold, Madelyn Page, Colton Page, Olivia Jensen and Vivian Jensen. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring and recognizing Peter and Sheila Arellano for their numerous years of unwavering dedication to the Escalon community. They will be deeply missed by many and may God bless them always.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3457, the Justice for Victims of Iranian Terrorism Act. Iran currently owes $43.5 billion to victims of state-sponsored terrorism. Hundreds of Americans have personally felt the impact of Iranian terrorism. In the last 30 years, Americans studying abroad, teaching or traveling through the Middle East have been taken hostage, killed in suicide bombings and gunned down by members of the Islamic jihad. The damages owed have been previously awarded by U.S. courts under Federal law, and the judgments remain unsatisfied by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Under the President's Iran deal, sanctions on Iran will be lifted, and an estimated $150 billion in assets will be released to them, and not one single cent will be used to pay the debts owed to the victims of Iranian-sponsored terrorism. H.R. 3457 holds Iran accountable to the victims of its terrorism by ensuring that not one cent of sanction relief goes to Iran until the victims are paid. I am a proud cosponsor of Mr. Meehan's legislation, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor Patterson Fire Department and West Stanislaus Fire District Chief Steven Hall, who announced his retirement after serving 25 years in Patterson. Chief Hall's career in firefighting started in 1990 when he came on as a volunteer firefighter. He worked full-time at Costco throughout his 11-year tenure as a volunteer for the Patterson and West Stanislaus fire departments. During that time, he took emergency medical technician training, served as an engineer and became the local training officer. In 1998, Hall became the area's first sworn-in arson investigator, which was still a volunteer position at the time. During Steven's 11 years as a volunteer firefighter, he was also earning an education. He obtained his associate's degree in fire science from Modesto Junior College and, shortly after, attained his bachelor's degree in occupational studies from CSU Long Beach. Through the Grand Canyon University in Arizona, Steven earned a master's degree in leadership, with an emphasis in emergency preparedness and executive fire leadership. In 2001, Hall finally accepted a paid position with the Patterson Fire Department as the Fire Marshall/Division Chief. At that time, then-Chief Richard Gaiser, Division Chief James Kinnear, and Hall were the only career staff of the West Stanislaus district and Patterson Fire. The Patterson department later doubled in size in 2005 when Mike Ambrosino and Michael McLaughlin joined as the first career firefighters. In 2011, Steven was promoted to Fire Chief. As Chief, he helped guide the department from a fully volunteer organization to one that now has both career and volunteer men and women. His priority as chief has been personnel development as well as establishing a new way of promoting the men and women from within the department. Under Chief Hall, Patterson Fire Department has seen many advances such as its first strategic plan which instituted a community emergency response team and fire prevention programs, all while staying under budget for the last four years. With the advancements and improvements of the Patterson Fire Department, the city's public protection classification has been reduced from a Class-4 to a Class-2, with a Class-1 being the best, by the Insurance Services Office. Chief Hall may be resigning from the Patterson Fire Department but his career is far from over. He has accepted the assistant fire chief position at the Central Fire Protection District in Santa Cruz County. This move will give him and his wife April, the opportunity to spend more time with their children and new grandchild. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring and commending the outstanding contributions made to the Patterson Fire Department and West Stanislaus Fire District by Chief Steven Hall and hereby wish him continued success.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, today marks 14 years since September 11, 2001, a day when thousands of Americans lost their lives in a terrorist attack carried out by al Qaeda. On that day, we united as a Nation in response to a tragedy too terrible to fathom. Today I remain thankful for our first responders, our firefighters, police, and many others who displayed courage and strength in helping out all impacted by the attacks. This day also reminds us to reflect on the dedication of the men and women in our Armed Forces. Thousands have served honorably in Iraq, Afghanistan, and in the war on terror since September 11. We are thankful for their sacrifice and willingness to stand for American interests across the globe. We all remember where we were on that fateful day 14 years ago, and we all recognize where we stand today. Our Nation faces greater dangers and higher stakes than ever before. The threat of a nuclear Iran remains all too real. That is why any deal with Iran or any other country must be verifiable, enforceable, and accountable. Iran has been a chief sponsor of terrorism across the globe. A nuclear Iran is a threat to everyone everywhere. It is not just about us. It is about our worldwide stability. The safety of the American people is not a partisan priority. It is an American priority. After closely reviewing the details of the unveiled agreement, it is clear this plan will not adequately deter the threat of a nuclear Iran nor safeguard the well-being of our citizens and national security interests. I hope that we can all remember, today especially, how crucial it is to protect ourselves, our children, and future generations against this huge threat throughout the globe.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor Turlock Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Sharon Silva for her many years of profound service to Turlock. After fifteen years of dedicated work, she retired on August 31, 2015. Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Sharon moved to the small town of Turlock, California with her family. Sharon found the time to further her education at Modesto Junior College and California State University, Stanislaus where she received her Bachelor's degree in Organizational Communications. In addition, she graduated from the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, D.C. with a Main Street Certification Institute Certification in Historic Preservation and also from the US Chamber Institute in Chamber Management at the University of Arizona in 2004. For eight and half years, Sharon served as the Executive Director of the Turlock Downtown Association, where she made enduring contributions to beautifying and restoring the historic downtown of Turlock. Among numerous activities that celebrated the culture of Turlock, she planned major community events such as the Festival of Lights Tree Lighting Ceremony and the Fourth of July parade. During Mrs. Silva's last three years with the Downtown Association, she was promoted to the position of Chief Executive Officer for the Turlock Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitor's Bureau, and diligently oversaw all three agencies. Sharon has been a beacon in the community and an integral part of the non-profit organization's success. Volunteering is second nature to Sharon; she has been a part of several different boards and a vital member of many different clubs and organizations. Appointed by the Mayor of Turlock and confirmed by the City Council, Sharon was one of nine committee members to become a part of the Development Collaborative Advisory Committee, and provide advice and recommendations to the city for improving the business climate. Furthermore, Sharon was co-chair of the Turlock Centennial Celebration in 2008, sat on the Board of Directors for the Turlock Community Theatre, and is a longtime member of the Rotary Club of Turlock. Sharon is a past member of the Turlock Unified School District Board and sits on a number of CSU Stanislaus committees: the President's Advisory council, the College of Business Board, the Alumni Board, the CSUS Warrior Association, and lastly, and the Center for Public Policies Studies Advisory Board. She served on Stanislaus County's Economic Development Committee and on the Board of Directors for the Stanislaus County Alliance Workforce. She was also the chair of the county's Redistricting Committee in 2011. Mrs. Silva stands as a role model for community dedication. Being actively involved and connected within the community as Sharon Silva has been, it comes as no surprise that she has received numerous awards and recognitions. In 1995, she received the Turlock Citizen of the Year Award and Volunteer of the Year Award at the Best of Turlock Awards Dinner. While serving as the Executive Director for the Turlock Downtown Association, the organization received the Governor's Award for Excellence in Revitalization Achievement in Design. The Turlock Chamber of Commerce was one of ten chambers in the state of California to be a CalChamber's President Circle Recipient for six years in a row. In 2011, Sharon Silva was named the Western Chamber Executive of the Year by the Western Association of Chamber Executives. That same year, she was nominated by Assembly member Bill Berryhill for the Woman of the Year Award. She recently received the Woman of the Year Award from the Stanislaus County Women's Commission. For the past 27 years, Sharon has been lovingly married to Manuel Silva. She has two children: Tamra Spade and Douglas Holmes; five grandchildren: Richard Fortado, Kasondra Fortado, Kali Spade, Derek Holmes and Lexie Holmes; and one great granddaughter; Madilynn Bettencourt. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring and recognizing the indispensable contributions Sharon Silva has brought to the Turlock Chamber of Commerce and its community. Sharon Silva has lived a profound experience and left a valuable legacy that many chamber CEOs may aspire to.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor Stanislaus Council of Governments (StanCOG) Executive Director Carlos P. Yamzon on his retirement; and to personally thank him for his years of profound service to Stanislaus County. Over 35 years ago, Mr. Yamzon's career began in the public service of transportation. Twenty-seven of those years were spent in technical and management positions with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), whose purpose is to provide a safe and reliable transportation system to benefit and enhance the state of California. After working in the transportation sector, Mr. Yamzon was amply prepared to begin working for StanCOG, the federally-designated Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the state designated Regional Transportation Planning Agency for the region of Stanislaus County. He worked diligently for this public organization to ensure transportation plans that would enhance the economic vitality of all Stanislaus County cities. After five short years, Mr. Yamzon was promoted to Executive Director. In this role, Mr. Yamzon was responsible for a variety of entities within the organization. He was charged with regional transportation planning, program administration, financial management and budget control where he handled all areas proficiently and with expertise. Mr. Yamzon was a key player in implementing StanCOG's 2011 and 2014 Regional Transportation Plans. These plans will continue to be utilized for future transportation improvements and investments. During his time at StanCOG, Mr. Yamzon was also instrumental in improving State Route 132. This is a major route for central valley commuters, as well as commercial truck drivers. In addition to Mr. Yamzon's efforts to improve State Route 132, he was an advocate for finding a suitable route in Stanislaus County to connect Interstate 5 and State Highway 99, 2 of California's best known routes. Mr. Yamzon is a well-known leader in the community of Modesto and the region of Stanislaus County. In the StanCOG office located in downtown Modesto, he is loved and admired by his staff for his sense of humor, unique sock choices, his love for jelly donuts and his keen devotion to rock and roll. Residing in Modesto, California for 29 years, Carlos and his wife Liz raised two children; daughter Aja Yamzon and son Marlon Yamzon. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring and commending the outstanding contributions made to the transportation systems in Stanislaus County by Executive Director Carlos Yamzon. We wish him continued success in his retirement.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor the life of Sergeant John D. Treantos. The beloved father, grandfather, brother, and teacher passed away on Friday, July 31st, 2015 surrounded by his loving family. During his youth, Sgt. Treantos grew up in California's State Capitol, Sacramento where he attended the local high school, Sacramento High. Following graduation in 1954, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps where he spent several years diligently serving our country. Sgt. Treantos' time in the Marine Corps was spent teaching his fellow marines to navigate exiting helicopters during the Korean War. In addition to always helping others, he was part of the unit to test helicopter tactics to be used with nuclear weapons. Before retiring from the Marine Corps, he achieved the rank of Sergeant. Following his service in the Marine Corps, Sgt. Treantos moved back to his hometown of Sacramento and enrolled at Sacramento State College. He obtained his degree and began his career as an educator where his passion for teaching history would be utilized and instilled in his students. Dedicating 52 years between Sacramento High School, Tracy High School, and San Joaquin Delta College, Mr. Treantos loved teaching and once stated that he would work for free as long as he got to teach history. Mr. Treantos was a beloved teacher who would spend countless hours researching his lessons to ensure his students would not only learn what was being taught, but be able to envision the historic events that shaped the United States. His legacy will live on through the lessons he instilled in his students. In his retirement, Sgt. Treantos became actively involved in the Tracy American Legion Post 172. From 2002-2012, he served as Commander where he assisted in honoring local heroes, organized events, and selected recipients to attend Boys State. He was also involved in the Bill King Detachment 019 of the Marine Corps League in Modesto where he served two terms as the detachment Commandant. Sgt. Treantos was the Judge Advocate and took part in funerals for Marines, color guards and parades. Furthermore, Sgt. Treantos was the proud president of the Tracy War Memorial where he participated in honoring veterans and fallen heroes. Marine Treantos was an inaugural and sitting member of my Veterans Advisory Committee before his passing. Sgt. Treantos was deeply passionate about sports and unwaveringly loyal to the San Francisco Giants. Downtime for Sgt. Treantos was spent enjoying music, theatre, museums, movies and most of all, reading books. He was never without a book and shared his desire for the arts and learning with the various people in his life. Sgt. Treantos is survived by his son John Treantos; daughters Jennifer, Melina and Imogene; five grandchildren Chris, John, Roger, Addy, and Cameron; three sisters Dena, Kathy, and Mary; and the mother of his children, Liz. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring and recognizing Sergeant John D. Treantos for his service and outstanding contributions to the community as well as our country.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of this great institution and those who serve and work here to acknowledge and express appreciation to one of our long-tenured House employees, Kristin Welsh-Simpson--a Senior Employee Assistance Counselor with the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)--who is departing the House following her fifteen years of service in the Office of Employee Assistance (OEA). Kristin first came to the House in 1996 as a graduate student intern in the Office of Employee Assistance as part of her graduate studies at the National Catholic School of Social Services, at The Catholic University of America. Following the awarding of her Master's Degree in Social Work, she took a position in the private sector as an Employee Assistance Account Manager for an international EAP provider, and oversaw the employee assistance service contract for a large global health products company. Fortunately for the House, the CAO and OEA were able to permanently hire her in 2000 when she joined the Office of Employee Assistance as an Employee Assistance Counselor. Almost immediately, Kristin began applying her special case management and organizational skills in service to the Members and employees of the House, the Congressional Budget Office and the United States Capitol Police. She has worked diligently and tirelessly to assist managers and employees in addressing the myriad of personal challenges, mental health and addiction problems, and other behavioral and work-life balance issues that potentially impact the performance and productivity of our workforce. With barely a year of service under her belt, Kristin and her 0EA colleagues found themselves in the uncharted territory of assisting House Leadership, Members, Officers, and employees through the emotional turmoil and psychological recovery following September 11th and the anthrax crisis in October 2001. Specifically, she was part of both the OEA team's response to the emotional and psychological support needs of individual employees and work groups, and the CAO's larger communications effort managed by the (OEA. She served with the OEA as the critical informational link to the House workforce throughout the six weeks in which sections of the House campus were closed--keeping employees and families informed of the status of the remediation efforts and the staggered opening of offices as well as the availability of House services as sections of the House buildings were cleared for occupancy and resumption of operations. Unfortunately, with the realities of our world, these were not to be the only crises that Kristin and the employee assistance team would be called upon to assist us with and support us through. Kristin's skills and capabilities would be particularly helpful following the tragic shootings in Tucson in January 2011, beginning with her on-site support and assistance within hours of the incident. In addition to being on the front lines in providing the support and services of the Office of Employee Assistance team to the House, CBO and Capitol Police communities in the aftermath of some of the most troubling events of the past fifteen years, Kristin has established a reputation as a go-to person. Kristin has been sought out for her day- to-day work in consulting with and coaching Members, managers and employees to assist them with the challenges presented when an employee's personal issues impact their performance or the effectiveness of the office. It is on this level that I personally became familiar with Kristin and her tremendous work ethic, insights and capabilities. She has worked with me and my staff for several years, helping to plan and facilitate our annual staff retreat and to incorporate some critical staff development into the process. Whether providing the OEA's critical assessment, referral and follow- up services to an employee in crisis, consulting with a Member or Chief of Staff on strategies to effectively integrate communications and team development into an annual staff retreat, or conducting a training session for the general House workforce, Kristin has consistently brought compassion, competence, organizational insight, institutional sensitivity, and practical solutions to her work. It seems fitting that one of Kristin's major responsibilities in the Office of Employee Assistance this past year was serving as the office's Intern Field Placement Instructor for a graduate student from Catholic University-- somewhat bringing her career with the House full circle. As Kristin departs the House to assume the position of Employee Assistance Director for the United States Senate, I regret the House's loss but take comfort in knowing that the Congress will continue to benefit from her knowledge and experience. I join the Chief Administrative Officer, Ed Cassidy; the CAO's Acting Chief Human Resource Officer, Darnell Lee; and the entire OEA team--Bernard Beidel, Liz McBride-Chambers, Margot Hawkins-Green, and Paul Tewksbury--in thanking Kristin for her service to the Office of Employee Assistance and the House, and in wishing her well and much success as her employee assistance career takes her to new challenges and opportunities. As someone who has personally benefited from the assistance and support she has provided my staff and office, I am confident I speak for the many Members, employees and family members she has helped, assisted and supported over the past fifteen years. Well done and Godspeed, Kristin.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor Turlock City Fire Department Chief Tim Lohman, who announced his retirement after serving 35 years in the fire service. Since the beginning of his career, Tim Lohman has always been dedicated to the Turlock City Fire Department. On July 1, 1980, he took his first step into the Department by becoming a Volunteer Firefighter. After only three years of hard work and perseverance, Tim Lohman succeeded in becoming a full-time Firefighter for the City of Turlock. There he worked at all levels of the department including Fire Engineer, Fire Captain, Battalion Chief, Division Chief of Training, and Division Chief of Operations. On account of his commitment, professionalism, and integrity he had demonstrated throughout the years, Tim Lohman was awarded the high rank of Fire Chief four years ago. Response times and personnel safety are a priority to Chief Lohman, and during his tenure as Fire Chief, he ensured many technological advances to the Turlock City Fire Department to achieve this goal. He oversaw the installation of Mobile Data Computers to each fire engine, which provided the crews with the most recent advances in mapping systems and programs. Furthermore, Chief Lohman oversaw the implementation of the 911 system and other additions that changed the landscape of emergency service response for the Fire Department. Serving as a Firefighter was not the only calling for Chief Lohman, as he owns and operates his own almond farm in Ballico, California. In 1989, he purchased the 28 acre parcel from his grandparents, and has been growing and harvesting the land ever since. Chief Lohman has been familiar with the almond industry for some time, but will be experiencing a new challenge after his retirement from the Turlock City Fire Department. He will be beginning a new career as Chief Executive Officer with the almond cooperative Northern Merced Hulling Association. Chief Lohman's vast experience and leadership will ensure he thrives in his imminent position. Chief Lohman has been recognized by colleagues with many awards and accolades. He is well respected by his community and fellow firefighters. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring and commending the outstanding contributions made to fire service and the City of Turlock by Turlock City Fire Department Chief Tim Lohman and hereby wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. DENHAM

Mr. DENHAM. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding on this important issue. Mr. Chairman, some will say they are not voting for this bill because of the challenges they perceive are in it. The biggest problem with this bill is that it doesn't do enough. We need millions of new acre-feet of water. We should be looking at the next generation. I want my kids to farm, but without new water supplies, we continue to see farmers go out of business. That speaks to the security of our food supply as a country. You can't farm with a zero allocation of water, which is why you see the high unemployment, which is why you see farmworkers who are going to be homeless and without jobs this year, which is why you will see more farms go out of business. This is a battle that has gone on for quite some time, but this bill deals with some very small issues that will be very significant this year. We need to have the full debate about what our country is going to do with its water supplies and the greater storage that we are going to need in the future. Yet, we are dealing with some commonsense issues like predator fish? Why would we try to save fish only to allow them to be eaten by a nonnative fish that eats 98 percent of the fish that we are spending millions of dollars to preserve? That is not an environmental solution any more than trucking fish around a river because the river can't handle the fish. If you want to be an extremist, be an extremist and deal with the commonsense solution here. This bill moves us in the right direction. This will help farms stay in business, and this will allow us to continue to have jobs in the Central Valley and a vibrant food supply for the rest of the country. This bill is ripe for passing this morning, and we would ask for a bipartisan vote.

Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman from California talks about a bill that he is not willing to support, but yet he wants to amend a bill that he says is going nowhere. The truth is the bill is going somewhere. This bill is going to move off this floor and move into the Senate. It is time for the Senate to show some action. It is time for the two bodies to actually do what they are supposed to do and work together to find a solution for California. To do nothing is criminal. To do nothing will put farms out of business, will create much higher unemployment than seen anywhere else in the country, and will devastate a food supply that feeds the rest of the Nation and much of the world. Now this amendment in particular has some problems. In conversations with the Bureau of Reclamation, they have not asked for this project and they have no money identified for the project. I am unaware of the State of California's position as well. Fish screens are hugely expensive projects. They are subject to destruction under high flow events due to debris and restrict recreation. I am concerned that this project is not even feasible. What this project aims to do is make sure that water is not transferred south of the delta. What many of my friends forget is, as I represent San Joaquin County, Mountain House, a community--not just farmland--that gets a zero allocation, is south of the delta. It actually exports water. So does Tracy, Manteca, Ripon, Escalon, areas in San Joaquin that I represent that are south of the delta. This is not an us against them fight. This is a fight for the survival of California. And it is not just about an emergency transfer of water. It is about the future of California. Do we want to have enough water for all of our residents? Do we want our number one industry, agriculture, to be a vibrant industry? We have the opportunity to have greater storage. And we ought to have some commonsense solutions in the process. You talk about wanting to save fish? Why not get rid of the predator fish, or at least go out and harvest some of them so they are not eating 98 percent of the fish that you say you are trying to help? There are commonsense solutions in here that will allow us to have greater flexibility, greater storage, and a better plan for the future of California. We should not be wasting water and just allowing freshwater to get pushed arbitrarily out to the ocean. This is sound environmental policy that will help us in the future and gives us a negotiating point with the Senate, Republicans and Democrats actually working together, for a solution that helps us in California. I yield back the balance of my time.