Mark DeSaulnier

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, we rise today to recognize the 150th Anniversary of Incorporation for the City of Martinez, California. Often called the ``Bay Area's Hidden Gem,'' Martinez has been a city of economic prosperity and cultural influence for the last 150 years. During the Gold Rush, it became a key trading and transportation hub for gold searchers traveling through the Carquinez Strait. Legend has it, during this time the city became the birthplace of the Martini, cementing the city's name in culture. Martinez has served as the County Seat since 1851 and was incorporated on April 1, 1876. In the late 1800s, Martinez was key in driving economic growth for the region, thanks to its thriving fishing and agriculture industries. The city was a major agricultural hub as settlers produced wine and planted fruit and nut orchards. It was also known for its successful fishing business, with two canneries opening in the city and thousands of pounds of fish being shipped around the world during this time. After the turn of the century, refining companies began operating in Martinez, serving as an industrial base and major employer for the region. Martinez is also home to several notable residents, including Hall of Fame baseball player, Joe DiMaggio, and iconic conservationist, John Muir. John Muir, also referred to as the ``Father of the National Park Service'', shaped the creation of the U.S. National Park system and founded the Sierra Club. Muir lived in Martinez from 1880 until his death in 1914. Today, Muir's home is preserved as a National Historic Site. Martinez has built a legacy as a major transportation and economic hub and played a critical role in California's development. Today, Martinez is known for its vibrant downtown and small-town charm. The city is also home to the largest bocce club in the country. Please join us in celebrating the rich history of Martinez and recognizing Martinez, California on its 150th Anniversary.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of a friend and his service to his community in northern California and the community I am so privileged to represent in Contra Costa County. Steven Roberti developed a love for service through his membership at a young age in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 302 in Martinez, California. Steven served as manager of the Contra Costa Labor Council from 1988 to 1996 and was later appointed to serve as region 9 manager at the U.S. Department of Labor, overseeing labor affairs across the Western United States during the Obama administration. Steven also worked for the United Way, Shelter Inc., and the Contra Costa Regional Health Foundation. Steven was a staunch advocate for working people and will be remembered for his lasting impact on the labor movement in California and his dedicated public service. Please join me in honoring this wonderful man's memory, a fighter for American workers, Steven Roberti.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the dedicated work of the staff that I get to work with and who work for me. Mr. Speaker, I have served my community in the Bay Area as a city council member, a mayor, a county supervisor, State assembly member, a State senator, and now as a Member of the House of Representatives. In all of those years, one of the keys to our success and our engagement has been the dedicated public servants who have worked for me in all of those capacities. They are the people I will talk about today. At community centers, healthcare clinics, schools, small businesses, townhalls, and more, our staff and I have encountered tens of thousands of Californians. At these stops, I heard from families across California 10 about the urgent need to lower the cost of living and make everyday essentials more affordable. I heard from healthcare providers and patients about the looming harm of cuts from the big, ugly bill to Medicaid, called Medi-Cal in California, and the Affordable Care Act. I heard from students and teachers about the growing need for Federal support for education and specifically for special education. I heard from seniors worried about threats to their Social Security and Medicare. Overwhelmingly, I heard from constituents about the deep concerns of the actions of the current administration, both here in our communities, in our country, and abroad. Day in and day out, our team and I answered phones and read constituent emails and letters. Over the past year, we registered and responded to more than 170,000 constituent opinions in our district. When constituents call our offices here in Washington, in Walnut Creek, California, and Antioch, California, they speak to real people. We answer the phone. Sometimes that person is even me, which has led to some interesting conversations. Every single constituent receives a written response quickly. One of the statistics that I am most proud of this year is that we hosted 23 townhalls. Under the lawlessness and the chaos of the current administration, townhalls and community meetings are more crucial than ever. Since coming to Congress, I have hosted almost 300 community townhalls. In 2025, we hosted more townhalls than in any prior year and connected with thousands of constituents across our community at these events. Outside of townhalls, our team is still crisscrossing our district. They attended more than 370 community events in 2025 alone. Sometimes, the only time people ever interact with their congressional Member's offices is because they need help desperately with a Federal agency. We are the last people they call desperately for help. Thanks to our casework team's compassion and persistence, we helped nearly 1,500 constituents in 2025, assisting with everything from immigration to Social Security. Here in Washington, D.C., our legislative team was also hard at work. Last year, I authored 11 pieces of legislation and sponsored more than 200 bills. We used all of the tools at our disposal to hold the administration accountable in sending a voice for our constituents from 3,000 miles away here to this Chamber, sending dozens of oversight inquiries, joining amicus briefs, and more to protect our constituents. Mr. Speaker, Tip O'Neill famously once said: ``All politics is local.'' I thank my staff for living that admonition from Speaker O'Neill. Altogether, I hope this work helps people back home see that this House, Congress, even in the minority with this administration, can work hard for you. I look forward to continuing to serve you this coming year.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 51.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, first, I want to thank the gentleman from Virginia for giving me this opportunity to speak, but also for his leadership. This is such an important discussion for Americans, and I think most Americans don't realize what a deliberate effort this was for years to take away their power and place it in the hands of the wealthiest and, unfortunately, the most obscenely greedy people in this country who think only they have the wisdom to govern. I thank the gentleman for giving me the opportunity to highlight how Citizens United has impacted not just the political landscape and indeed this room but also our Nation, our culture, and certainly our economy. With the floodgates opened by the Supreme Court in 2010, corporations and billionaires can now make unlimited independent expenditures. As a result, the wealthy few have even more outsized influence on our politics. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the 2017 Trump tax cuts overwhelmingly favored the rich. The lowest 20 percent of earners got an average tax break of only $70 while the top 1 percent of earners received over $61,000 in tax breaks, and the top tenth of a percent saw over $250,000 of tax breaks. This is on top of the situation where we have the largest concentration of wealth in the history of this country, making it more obscenely unfair. Those same tax cuts lowered the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent, which the Bipartisan Policy Center projected will increase the Federal deficit by almost $1 trillion dollars by fiscal year 2027. Unsurprisingly, during the same period, billionaire spending on Presidential elections has skyrocketed, increasing from a total of $16 million before Citizens United was passed to over $2.6 billion in the years since Citizens United. What naive person would think that these people who contributed these obscene amounts of money did it for altruistic purposes? No, they did it for themselves. This is obscene greed. How much do they need? When billionaires and corporations are able to spend unlimited amounts to influence the results of our elections, our elected officials are, in turn, unfortunately, more likely to respond by passing legislation that benefits corporations and the richest Americans while making life more expensive for middle-class Americans. If you are surprised about affordability, Mr. President, this is how real Americans have to live because of your policies and the people who preceded you. Our Nation and the world are experiencing record levels of income inequality, and the impacts of Citizens United and other handouts to the obscenely rich and powerful are only making it worse. It is past time that we change course and correct what has created this inequality. Compare it to the years of another Republican President, Dwight David Eisenhower, when we had the largest middle class in the country and the world in our history. Ironically, President Eisenhower said about working people, the labor movement: Only a fool--this is President Eisenhower--would come between an American worker and their ability to organize for other workers. American voters deserve Representatives who will bring about positive change, not just cater to the interests of these obscenely wealthy donors and megacorporations. I am glad to be here today, and, again, I thank my colleague for doing this. It is my belief America is about representing all of us, ordinary people as well as wealthy people. After all, are we a country of, by, and for Americans, or of, by, and for the obscenely wealthy?

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding and for his leadership in opposition to this bill. Environmental, social, and governance are factors that retirement plan fiduciaries may consider when making investments on behalf of retirement plans covered by ERISA. Factors that may fall within ESG include impact of the company's actions on climate change, working conditions, and employee safety at the company, and its management structure. Weighing ESG factors when making investment decisions is not only more socially responsible, it is also more fiscally responsible for the type of long-term investments managed by retirement plan fiduciaries. Factors like sea level rise due to climate change, child labor violations, or track records for mistreating workers could cause unnecessary investment risks over time. Investors should be protected from those kinds of unethical management practices. That is why it should be considered a best practice for retirement plan professionals to appropriately weigh ESG factors--just weigh them. Unfortunately, this bill would establish unnecessary barriers to retirement plan fiduciaries who want to consider these factors. This is despite the fact that even those fiduciaries who consider ESG factors are still required under ERISA to run plans solely in the best interest of participants and fiduciaries. I filed an amendment to this bill that would permit plan fiduciaries to consider ESG factors when they make investment decisions, which aligns with the Biden administration's ESG rule that was upheld twice by Federal district courts before being abandoned by the Trump administration. Crucially, my amendment would have also upheld core ERISA protections and explicitly ensured that fiduciaries do not sacrifice investment returns when they consider ESG factors. Unfortunately, House Republicans and House Republican leadership prevented the amendment from being approved in the committee. Mr. Speaker, we should trust the professionals who are legally obligated to make prudent decisions on behalf of retirement plan participants, not undermine their ability to make sound investment decisions. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose H.R. 2988. Once again, I thank the ranking member for his leadership.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my outrage and ask my colleagues to join me in condemning the actions of the President when he pardoned so many of the individuals convicted after January 6. At least 13 individuals who have been pardoned by President Trump have gone on to commit additional crimes, including sexual assault against a minor and a fatal DUI. Instead of promoting accountability and rehabilitation, when possible, in our justice system, shouldn't the President and the majority look at these pardons and make sure that they accept the consequences of his actions and their actions by not ignoring them? Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in condemning the President's unvetted and ill-advised pardons that are leading to repeat offenses. Congress should be here to protect innocent Americans and not look away from the consequences of the President's actions.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the fifth anniversary of an awful day in American history and this Chamber. I was one of the last Members of Congress evacuated by the Capitol Police into a room just to my left off the floor. On that day, the damage caused is hard to quantify. Mr. Speaker, 174 Capitol Police officers were injured while protecting this sacred place, and 5 officers lost their lives. The Capitol itself sustained $30 million in damages. In total, that day cost American taxpayers $2.7 billion, Mr. Speaker. Think of that. While the insurrectionists did not succeed that day, they did cause even bigger damage than the dollar damage. The person most responsible for this continues to behave the way he did then. George Santayana famously said that those who forget history are condemned to repeat it. I pray that that is not the case. We must remember honestly, all of us, what happened that day.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the distinguished tenure of Jim Wunderman after 22 years of service as the CEO of the Bay Area Council. For over two decades, Jim has built a legacy of leadership and dedicated service. Jim's career in service began in 1984, serving as Chief of Staff for former San Francisco Mayor Frank M. Jordan. He then split his time between the private and public sectors, working for former San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein and serving as the Senior Vice President of external affairs with Providian Financial Corporation. Jim's experience helped him to understand the value of public-private partnerships and provided him with critical institutional knowledge needed to strengthen our region and promote higher quality of life for all Bay Area residents. Since joining the Bay Area Council in 2004, Jim has expanded the Council's reach to include more than 325 member companies across a diverse range of industries. During his tenure, the Council led several successful ballot initiatives, securing billions of dollars for transportation, affordable housing, education, climate resilience, and healthcare. He has also led the Council to play a role on the global stage, launching a partnership with China that has grown to four Bay Area Council offices. This led to the state of California reopening its trade and investment office in China, operated by the Bay Area Council. Jim's work demonstrates his profound commitment to the economic well- being of the Bay Area and to keeping our region globally competitive. Additionally, Jim has contributed to the Bay Area's development by serving on multiple boards and commissions. These include the University of California Business Executive Council, the California Pacific Medical Center, the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame, the Oakland Zoo, and many more. He also serves as a Visiting Professor at the UC Davis Graduate School of Management, helping to shape the next generation of leaders and advocates. Please join me in honoring Jim Wunderman for his unwavering commitment to service, outstanding leadership, and for his invaluable contributions to our region. I wish Jim the best of luck in his next chapter with California Forever.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service and career of San Ramon Police Chief Denton Carlson. Chief Carlson is retiring from the San Ramon Police Department after more than 27 years of service. Throughout his career, Chief Carlson has demonstrated his professionalism and his steadfast commitment to public service and community engagement. Chief Carlson began his law enforcement career in 1998 as a Deputy Sheriff, working in the City of San Ramon since 2002. He then joined the San Ramon Police Department at its inception in 2007. In the San Ramon Police Department, he has served as a Patrol Officer, Detective, Tactical Team Leader, SWAT Team Commander, and Public Information Officer. His leadership was instrumental in launching the Police Department's Community Resource and Crime Prevention Division and its social media and emergency communications systems. He was promoted to Captain in 2017 and has also served as Director of the City's Office of Emergency Management from 2015 to 2022. In this role, he was instrumental in keeping residents safe and informed, and was recognized in 2016 as Employee of the Year by the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce for his work to promote public safety. In 2022, he became the 5th Police Chief of San Ramon. Chief Carlson has consistently shown his dedication to fostering a safe and secure community for San Ramon residents. I thank Chief Denton Carlson for many years of service to our community and congratulate him on his well-deserved retirement.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise as a former small business owner having over three decades owning and managing restaurants in strong opposition to this sad healthcare plan. After kicking 10 million Americans off Medicaid in the big, ugly bill, Republicans are following up with this proposal that the Congressional Budget Office says will take healthcare away from an additional 100,000 Americans a year. We need to make healthcare more affordable for all Americans. Despite spending 18\1/2\ percent of our GDP in the United States on healthcare, we have the worst outcomes: the highest mortality rate, life expectancy, and acuity. We need to make it more affordable. I agree with the ranking member and the chair that we should work together on the inefficiencies in the system. However, this is not it. After spending 15 years on their healthcare plan, Republicans have just repackaged some of their old ideas, and they are hoping the American people won't notice that it is not going to help. Instead, we should extend the tax credits for 3 years and come together.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, today I express my outrage about the affordability crisis in American healthcare. Republican leaders have failed to extend the expiring tax credits that help people afford their insurance. Consumers affected will face an average increase in their premium costs of 114 percent next year. Rather than making healthcare more affordable and effective, Republican leaders and President Trump passed their big, ugly bill that kicks 10 million Americans off of Medicaid. It increases healthcare costs for 5 million small business owners and self-employed workers. It fails to extend critical tax credits. This is all to give billions of dollars of tax credits to the wealthiest Americans. Time is running out, as we all know. I urge my Republican colleagues to do the right thing and work with Democrats to make healthcare more affordable and more effective for Americans.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary career of San Ramon, California, Police Chief Denton Carlson as he retires after 27 years of service. Chief Carlson began his law enforcement career in 1998 and later joined the San Ramon Police Department during its founding in 2007. Quickly rising through the ranks, he became captain in 2017 and chief in 2022. Chief Carlson additionally served as the director of the city's Office of Emergency Management from 2015 to 2022. His leadership was instrumental in launching the police department's community resource and crime prevention division and its social media and emergency communications systems. Deeply respected in the community by all the citizens, please join me in thanking Chief Carlson for his extraordinary and many years of public service and for public safety and congratulating him on a well- deserved retirement.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and public service of a mentor of mine and many people in California and in the bay area, and a wonderful human being, a dedicated public servant from Walnut Creek, California, in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay. Gwen Regalia began her career as a fourth grade teacher--she was a teacher all her life in many ways--before serving on the Walnut Creek School District governing board for almost a decade. Gwen later served on the city council for 21 years and also served regionally on the Association of Bay Area Governments. She had five terms as the mayor of the city of Walnut Creek, during which time she championed the development of local institutions, like the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek and the Walnut Creek Library, two remarkable local institutions. Sadly, Gwen passed away in November. She will be remembered for her outstanding leadership, her indelible mark that she left on Walnut Creek and the San Francisco Bay Area, the State of California, and, indeed, the United States of America. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Gwen, for her service and incredible personality.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I will say to my friend from Kentucky that it has been a long time since you have been to the Bay Area, so I will take you up on your offer. One of the reasons I wanted to come down and speak to this is because I represent an area in the Bay Area that has five refineries in it. They have been valuable tax providers and employers for many years. One of them is about to close and another one is in the process of closing. Two others have spent billions of dollars to work on transitional fuels, to put investment into those refineries to produce biofuels that are part of the transition to cleaner, safer, more economical energy sources. The last one, Chevron, is doing both. I must say I am reminded, as I sit here, to the same arguments 30 years ago having been involved at the local level in California about secondhand smoke and tobacco when the tobacco industry was insisting that the Tobacco Institute do studies about the cost to smokers by passing secondhand smoke ordinances that figured out the full cost to consumers for people who didn't smoke. As a former restaurant owner, who didn't allow people to smoke, it just reminds me of the same thing. I believe in research because I have worked with a refinery and oil companies for many years. I was one of those regulators. I represented the Bay Area on the California Air Resources Board for 10 years. I was appointed by two Republicans, by the way, and one Democrat. What we have done is, we are transitioning. Twenty-five percent of the cars in northern California last year were EVs. They were alternative fuels. We knew this was coming. We have tried to work and invest in the refinery community on how we transition for the local government, who required those taxes, and for the employers-employees who need those jobs. Let's do research on how we transition and give States the ability to transition, if they choose, and local governments to transition. While I value the research, let's be honest about having more research that is more objective and consider the full cost to changing our energy. Almost 50 million Americans live within a mile of a refinery or a heavy processing plant. Their public health costs are disproportionately affected by what we know from traditional pollutants, particulate matter, and smog. Then when you add carbon into it, the economic model changes completely. Mr. Speaker, I suggest to Mr. Guthrie, before he comes out to the Bay Area, we have a collegial conversation and we can go to those refineries. I would particularly like to take him to the ones that have invested on the transition because we know we need a transition for those of us who want to go to as near-zero emissions as possible, and we are succeeding. I will remind my colleagues, too, across the aisle that the Chinese are our global competition. The Chinese auto manufacturing industry is about to become the largest auto manufacturer in the world. They are all EVs. They are moving to this. While we try to protect traditional energy sources, let's be smart about the transition economically for American consumers and taxpayers. I don't disagree with looking at capacity, but let's do it in a broader and more objective way that tells the full story as truthfully as possible, so we as policymakers can be more thoughtful about the short-term impacts of our policy decisions, as well as in the midterm and long term.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and service of Gwen Regalia. A proud resident of Walnut Creek since 1958, Gwen was an incredible leader and public servant. Beginning as a local 4th grade schoolteacher, Gwen started her career in local politics with the Walnut Creek School District board, serving nearly a decade. During this time, she was also instrumental in helping elect Peg Kovar, the city's first female mayor. In 1987, Gwen was elected to Walnut Creek City Council. She served on City Council for 21 years, including five terms as Mayor. During her time in city government, Gwen was always a champion of local arts and culture. Some of her most notable accomplishments include overseeing the development of the Lesher Center for the Arts, the Downtown Walnut Creek Library, the Shadelands Art Center, and the Iron Horse Trail bridge over Ygnacio Valley Road. Gwen's leadership also extended past Walnut Creek, as she was a president of the Association of Bay Area Governments Executive Board. Unfortunately, Gwen passed away on November 17, 2025, at the age of 92. She was a wonderful mentor to me and so many others and the Bay Area is better because of Gwen. She will be remembered for her outstanding leadership, dedicated service to her community, and the incredible impact she had on the City of Walnut Creek and beyond. Please join me in honoring Gwen Regalia for her many contributions to our community.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and service of Mike Doyle, a dedicated public servant from Danville, California, in my district. Mike left his Pennsylvania hometown at just 17 to join the United States Air Force and was stationed in Germany, where he provided aid to U.S. airmen and displaced citizens after World War II. After being reassigned to a nearby Air Force base in northern California, Mike moved to Danville in 1955, and he was elected to the town council in 1991. He played a crucial role in Danville's growth, spending 25 years serving the town on the town council, including five terms as mayor of the town of Danville. Sadly, Mike passed away in October. He will be remembered for his outstanding leadership, honesty, and for his indelible mark that he left on our community and on this country. Please join me in honoring Mike Doyle for his invaluable contributions to the United States of America and the community he so loved and served.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of Cindy Gershen on her 70th birthday. Cindy has worked tirelessly to bring healthy eating initiatives to life throughout the East Bay. She graduated from U.C. San Diego before opening Sunrise Bakery and Catering in Walnut Creek. Now called ``Sunrise Bistro & Catering'', the over 40 year old locally renown restaurant prides itself on nutrition and healthy cooking. Throughout her time as owner and chef of the Sunrise Bistro, Cindy has continuously revamped the menu to align with the best nutrition standards. In 2009, Cindy created the nonprofit, ``Wellness City Challenge'', which seeks to improve community health and promote the importance of nutrition. She has impacted the lives of countless residents across the East Bay, encouraging them to follow her own journey to live healthier lives. Additionally, Cindy has worked to promote wellness in schools and ensure that future generations can become educated culinary experts. For over ten years between 2011 to 2022, she taught students about food and nutrition at Mount Diablo High School in Concord, creating the Sustainable Hospitality Program. Her classes focused on topics such as food science, harvesting, and career readiness. Cindy's class was so successful that it inspired similar courses at several other high schools across the county. Additionally, she was recognized for her wellness advocacy efforts as California Assembly District 14's ``Woman of the Year'' in 2014. Cindy is also an author who has collaborated with Dr. Robert Lustig at the University of California, San Francisco to publish cookbooks backed by scientific research. She currently works as a chef at East Bay Health, helping patients practice intentional, healthy eating. Cindy's work has been immensely impactful across our region and her service has left an indelible impact on our community. Please join me in thanking Cindy Gershen for her outstanding work and in wishing her a very happy 70th birthday.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Shirley Krohn and congratulate her on earning the first ever California Senior Legislature ``Legislator of the Decade'' award. Shirley's advocacy and dedicated policy work have improved the lives of countless seniors in our community. She served on the Contra Costa County Advisory Council on Aging, including serving twice as President, where she worked tirelessly to ensure the voices of Contra Costa's seniors were heard. Shirley also worked to combat elder financial abuse in her role as Chairman of the Board at Bechtel Credit Union, where her efforts led to landmark reporting laws which are now emulated across the country. She also served in the California Senior Legislature, working to improve quality of life for California's seniors. Shirley has been a life-long champion for the dignity, safety, and well-being of older Americans. Shirley's leadership has shaped state policy on dementia care, end- of-life decision making, and protections for our vulnerable populations. I would also like to commend her for her mentorship of the next generation of advocates, cementing her legacy of service for years to come. Shirley's service is a true example of outstanding public leadership and advocacy. Please join me in thanking Shirley Krohn for her decades of exemplary service on behalf of older adults throughout the State of California.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and service of Mike Doyle. Throughout his life, Mike demonstrated his unwavering devotion to service and empowering his community. Mike was born in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania and left his hometown at the age of 17 to join the United States Air Force. He was promoted to Sergeant and was posted to Erding Air Base in Bavaria, Germany, where he served as Chaplain's Assistant, providing aid to U.S. airmen, German citizens, and displaced individuals. He was then reassigned to Parks Air Base in Pleasanton, California where, after stopping for directions at Elliott's Bar in downtown Danville, he stumbled upon his future hometown. From there, Mike fell in love with the Town of Danville and began raising his family there in 1955. Mike dedicated his life to serving his community and improving quality of life for Danville residents. He was first elected to the Town Council in 1991, served as Mayor for five terms, and devoted over 25 years of service to the Town. Throughout his tenure, he played a crucial role in guiding the town as it grew while helping to maintain Danville's small-town charm. He was admired for his commitment to fiscal responsibility and support for Danville's businesses, faith communities, and schools. Additionally, he represented Danville for more than 20 years on the Board of Directors of the League of California Cities. Sadly, Mike passed away on October 19, 2025 at the age of 96. He will be remembered for his outstanding leadership, honesty, and for the indelible mark that he has left on our community. Please join us in honoring Mike Doyle for his invaluable contributions to the Town of Danville and beyond.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Tamara Steiner for her invaluable service to our community throughout her journalistic career. For over 20 years, Tamara has worked to keep our community connected and informed. Tamara and Bob Steiner started The Pioneer in 2003, providing local news to Clayton, Concord, and Pleasant Hill residents at no cost. The Pioneer covered key community events, including Clayton Business and Community Association (CBCA) festivals, De La Salle football, and local politics. Under Tamara's leadership, The Pioneer provided critical news to local residents throughout challenging and uncertain times, such as the 2008 financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and local emergencies like landslides and fires. The Pioneer also sponsored several annual local events including CBCA festivals, the Hay Day ``Woof-o-ween'' dog costume contest, and more. As local newspapers became more scarce, The Pioneer continued to thrive and worked to foster a strong and vibrant community in Clayton and beyond. Beyond their work with The Pioneer, Tamara and Bob have continually demonstrated their steadfast commitment to our community. They started Clayton Clean Ups, served on CBCA's board, marched in local parades, and more. Additionally, Tamara served as Executive Director of the Pacific Business Center and as a board member for the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, underscoring her commitment to local development. She also taught Business English and Communications at the community college level, helping to prepare the next generation of journalists and business professionals. Throughout her life, Tamara has worked tirelessly to serve our community with enthusiasm and care. Please join me in thanking Tamara Steiner for her decades of remarkable dedication to local journalism and in recognizing her incredible impact in Contra Costa County.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a survivor of stage IV cancer to express my astonishment and to object to the Trump administration's cuts to American cancer research. Over the last 50 years, the 5-year cancer survival rate for people like myself has risen from 49 percent to 68 percent. This is largely because of American taxpayers' investment in the brilliant researchers at the National Cancer Institute. The administration's cuts to the National Cancer Institute's spending by $842 million in its first 7 months alone put that trend in jeopardy. Just as a return on investment, this is astonishingly bad. For every $1 spent by American taxpayers at NCI, they get almost $3 back. Experts warn that we will lose a generation of scientists because of this recklessness. I urge the administration and my Republican colleagues to reverse course, maintain our global leadership, and work toward a better future for the 40 percent of Americans who will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, first, I thank the gentlewoman from New Jersey for having this session, for bringing us together to highlight how the Trump administration is undermining hard-won protections for workers. I really appreciate the comments and sort of the introduction to my comments, a community that I have been close to and worked for diligently for a long time. This used to be a bipartisan issue. This is an opportunity to discuss a group of workers who are often overlooked but who are also being very much hurt by the deregulatory agenda of this administration, workers with disabilities. In December, the previous administration, under President Biden's leadership and the Department of Labor, released a proposed rule that would phase out, as quickly as possible, subminimum wage certificates which allow employers to legally pay workers with disabilities below the Federal minimum wage. This was long, long overdue. About 38,500 disabled workers earned a subminimum wage in 2024 because of these certificates. Those 38,000 people deserve better, much better. In taking action, the Biden Department of Labor spoke for those workers and pushed for them to have a livable, honorable wage. The Department noted that opportunities, legal protections, and support for disabled workers have increased since 1989 when the regulation was last updated. However, in July, the Trump Department of Labor decided to undo that long, long overdue progress that was enacted by the Biden administration and House and Senate Democrats and instead continued issuing subminimum wage certificates. Reminder to people around the country and Californians: The Federal minimum wage is $7.25. They were being paid below that. In doing so, this administration is turning back the clock on disability rights. Multiple States, including the State I live in and represent, California, have already prohibited subminimum wages for workers with disabilities. Good for them. These subminimum wage laws federally have been used to justify paying people just a few cents per hour for work. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and the National Council on Disabilities have called for an end to the practice by paying disabled workers less and paying them what they deserve, at least a minimum adjustment. While disabled individuals continue to face challenges in achieving equal opportunity and treatment, we have made great strides in our understanding of disability and workplace accommodations. Paying these American workers less can no longer be justified by any standard, yet this administration insists on doing it. Rather than allow employers to continue underpaying disabled workers, this administration must and should reverse course and respect the dignity and contributions of these workers. Again, I thank Representative McIver for coming here and bringing this to the attention of the American public.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of September being Suicide Prevention Month. More than 35 years ago, my father took his own life by firearm. Unfortunately, this kind of tragedy is too common in America. There were 1.4 million suicide attempts in 2019, making suicide one of the most pressing public health crises in America. In 2023, over 49,000 Americans died by suicide. Of those deaths, nearly 6 out of 10 involved a firearm. Firearms also account for just 5 percent of American suicide attempts, but unfortunately, firearms account for over 50 percent of the deaths. This points to a disturbing trend that those who attempt suicide by other means often regret their attempt. They don't do it again, and they seek help. That option, unfortunately, is rarely available to those people like my dad who had a weapon available. Too many people don't seek help when they need it. Whether they are held back by fear, stigma, or lack of access, we need to do more as a society to remove all the barriers and encourage open and supportive communities. Please, if you are having issues around depression or suicidal thoughts, seek help and call 988.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask when the majority will join us to address the epidemic of gun violence in our schools in America. A recent shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis left 2 children dead and 21 injured when a shooter opened fire during morning mass. Since 2013, there have been more than 1,500 incidents of gunfire on America's school grounds, resulting in 485 deaths and 1,100 injuries nationally. As a result of California's strong gun regulations, residents of that State, my home State, are 25 percent less likely to be killed in a mass shooting than people in other States. California's overall rate of gun deaths is 42 percent lower than the national average. However, 40 percent of the guns used in California come from outside of the State. We need to deal with this nationally even while States show action. The national statistics are much more troubling. For example, the U.S. gun homicide rate is 26 times that of other high-income countries. House Republicans continue to block all legislation to address this crisis. It is past time that we put the safety of our children before the profits of the gun lobby and finally pass laws to protect our communities and young Americans from gun violence particularly in school.