Mark DeSaulnier

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. I just don't get it sometimes. Barbara, as a neighbor, colleague, and friend, I just wanted to come down and thank you and talk about two specific instances where you made me a better person and, as an example of how you have illuminated this country, that if you can't talk about trouble, then you can't talk about love and you can't talk about making people better. We were down here in the well when I first got here after Ferguson. Elijah Cummings and John Lewis were sitting right there. I can't remember which one of us started this, but the conversation was: If we can't talk about race in the bay area, and gosh knows we have enough trouble there, where the heck in the country can we? So, we started that. You taught me so much. John Powell from the Haas Institute for diversity is just a wonderful man. All his staff would come to these townhalls. I don't know how many we had, but Judy Chu, Karen Bass, and Ted Lieu came to a very diverse area in our two districts. It was wonderful, and I learned so much about myself and my own biases and prejudices. It was illuminating, too, because I had liberal White Democrats come up to me, I told you this, and say: Why are you doing this? You had one of those moments where: Why are you surprised? Then, we brought John back here to the Democratic Caucus, and I am told that, at the time, it was the largest turnout the Caucus ever had because Professor Powell talked about his experience at Ohio State and Cal, his studies on diversity, and why confronting bias and racism was so important for the health of this country. That was wonderful and continues to be, and we are going to continue to do it. Then, for people who don't know about the Port Chicago 50, it was the largest domestic loss of life in the United States during World War II, when the very segregated, racist Navy was having Black African-American sailors load ships at Port Chicago, which was in San Francisco Bay in my district, in our neighborhood. These young men came from all over the country in the forties because they wanted to defend America in spite of all of our flaws, particularly from the South. They were told how to load munitions in such a way that was so dangerous and so different from the White Teamsters who did the same work. Because of this disregard, the White officers would actually bet on which group would load more, and they would just throw these weapons into these ships. One morning, disaster struck. The ship exploded. You could hear the explosion 20, 50 miles away. It rattled windows in San Francisco 15 miles away. We lost over 300 African-American sailors that day. They had to go down into that water the next day. The ship was gone, and the pier was gone. They went into the water under instruction from their White officers to get the bodies and the parts from their colleagues out of there. Reading about that in the book and the history about it--anyway, for 80 years, this has gone on. Fifty of those young men who volunteered to serve this country in horrible conditions and who survived were taken to court-martial and got the worst possible sentence, 50 of them, for disobeying an order that they knew was dangerous. They didn't disobey it; they just said: We are brave men, but we don't want to go back to the same circumstances. So for that, they were court-martialed. Thurgood Marshall helped defend them, and as part of what he said about similar cases: I come not just to defend these men, but I come to defend the sacred creed in our founding documents. So for 40 years, my predecessor tried to get a change. With your help and for the 10 years I have been here, we have tried to get a change. Toward the end, I was arguing with the Navy and with the White House. In the last conversation, I was emulating you. I was a little irritated. I said: Goddamn it, can't we just do this for Barbara Lee before she retires? The secret weapon in that was, a month later, the Secretary of the Navy called me and said: We are going to exonerate those sailors. Those are just two specific examples of how you have raised people up and raised me up, and there is so much more that everyone else has talked about, about poverty and your dogged determination for justice. You have done it in a way that has gone to people who a lot of us wouldn't go to, but you have gone to everyone and went after, as Lincoln said, ``the better angels of our nature,'' and you were able to persuade them. So, I am going to miss you so much.

Mr. DeSAULNIER. I know. I know you are going to be coming and using that finger every once in a while saying: Come on, man. In our districts, if you come to the bay area, you can still see bumper stickers that say: ``Barbara Lee Speaks for Me.'' Indeed, Barbara, thank you for speaking for so many Americans.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Shanelle Scales-Preston for her decades of service to the House of Representatives as she departs to begin her new role as a Contra Costa County Supervisor. Shanelle has lived in and served the East Bay of California her whole life. After graduating from California State University East Bay, Shanelle worked for Contra Costa County and joined then-Congressman George Miller's staff, working diligently on behalf of district residents for more than ten years. When Congressman Miller retired, I was thrilled to welcome her onto our office's team. She has served as my District Director since 2015, helping lead our efforts in the district to provide outstanding service to constituents. Shanelle has also shown unwavering devotion to her hometown of Pittsburg, California where she resides with her husband, Damon, and their sons Jaden and Ashton. She has served on Pittsburg City Council since 2018, working tirelessly to foster a strong and diverse community throughout the City. In this role, she has spearheaded efforts to expand access to affordable housing, improve public transportation, empower Pittsburg's youth, and build a vibrant hub in downtown Pittsburg. She has been a regional leader, working with a number of key groups and agencies, serving as the Chair of MCE and TransPlan and President of the League of California Cities East Bay Division. On top of it all, Shanelle is active with several community groups including the Gateway Rotary Club and Pittsburg Reads initiative. Shanelle was chosen by the voters to serve as the next Contra Costa County Supervisor for District 5. While I am sad to see her go from our team, I'm confident that in this role, she will continue to be an effective leader for our County. It has been a joy to work with Shanelle throughout the years and I'm incredibly grateful for her service.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Norma Griffin. Norma was born in New York City where she was raised with her sister Rita. Norma earned her B.A. from Hunter College and her M.A. from Teachers College at Columbia University. She married her husband, Ralph, in 1960 and the couple moved to California shortly after. The Griffins settled in Concord, California where they raised their two sons, Ralph and Steven. Throughout her life, Norma was deeply committed to her community and empowering young people. She was a devoted educator for over three decades, teaching in the New York public school system, Oakland Unified School District, Mt. Diablo Unified School District, and overseas in Japan and France. On top of her teaching, Norma was also dedicated to serving her community and was a leader in Contra Costa County. She was a founding member of the Black Families Association of Central Contra Costa County, a member of the Friends of the Concord Library, and served as president of the American Association of University Women's Concord Chapter. Norma received a number of accolades for her contributions, including the 1995 Mason McDuffie Teacher of the Year award and being named Woman of the Year for State Assembly District 11 in 2008. Norma was a multifaceted woman with many interests and hobbies. She was a talented musician and was a member of the Schola Cantorum of New York, Oakland Symphony Chorus, and a piano student at Julliard School of Music. She also enjoyed reading, crocheting, and traveling. She visited 36 out of 50 states and traveled to six continents. Sadly, Norma passed away, leaving behind her sons, niece Michelle Cambridge, cousin Joyce (Edwards) Palmer, longtime friend Cheryl Hazell-Small, and her godchildren Monique and Shadrick Small. Norma will be remembered for her courage, kindness, and determination. Please join me in honoring Norma Griffin.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Shanelle Scales-Preston for her decades of service to the House of Representatives. Shanelle has lived in and served in Contra Costa County in northern California her whole life. Since 2001, she has worked diligently on behalf of district residents, first for my predecessor, Congressman George Miller, who served in this House for 40 years, and now for my office. As our district director, she has helped lead our efforts in the district to provide outstanding service to our constituents. Shanelle has also shown unwavering devotion to her hometown of Pittsburg, California, where she resides with her husband, Damon, and their sons, Jaden and Ashton. She has served on the Pittsburg City Council serving as mayor and council member since 2018, working tirelessly to foster a strong and diverse community throughout Pittsburg, California. Shanelle was chosen by the voters to serve as the next Contra Costa County supervisor for District 5. While I am very sad to see her go from our team, I am confident that in this role she will continue to be an effective and wonderful leader for our community, for our county, and for our country. It has been a joy to work with Shanelle throughout the years, and I am incredibly grateful and proud for her service.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of Scott Perkins as he retires from his role with the San Ramon City Council. Scott has spent his life serving his country and his community. He attended the US Naval Academy and earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering before serving five years in active duty with the Navy. During this time, he spent 3 years aboard the USS Gray as a First Lieutenant, Assistant Navigator, and Missile/Gunnery Officer and 2 years serving as an Instructor at the Landing Force Training Command Pacific. Scott remained in the Naval Reserves serving in a variety of roles before he was called back into active duty to support Operation Desert Storm. He served in Germany, Turkey, and Iraq assisting with refugee support activities. Scott retired from the Armed Forces in 2005 with the rank of Captain, serving more than 34 years in uniform. Scott continued to serve his Nation with his acquired expertise, moving into an engineering role at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. In this role, Scott worked as the Resource Manager and Facility Manager for the X-Ray Laser Program, served as a Test Engineer for the SLBM Weapon Protection Program, and supported the Lab's Nuclear Materials Surveillance Program. He retired from the Lab after 36 years of dedicated service and continues to consult for their Weapons Complex Integration program. Scott has also demonstrated his steadfast commitment to our community and improving the lives of San Ramon residents. He was first elected to the San Ramon City Council in 2003, where he has worked to maintain the financial health of the City and improving quality of life in San Ramon. He served as chair of the City's Finance Committee and played a key role in renovating and expanding San Ramon's library. Beyond his work on City Council, Scott has been instrumental in supporting local Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. Having earned his rank of Eagle Scout at the age of 13, Scott went on to serve as Den Leader and Cubmaster for the pack at Montevideo Elementary School and was a founding leader of Troop 84. He has led backpack trips in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and has mentored over 100 Eagle Scouts. Throughout his life, Scott has bravely served his country and has worked tirelessly to empower members of our community. Please join me in congratulating Scott Perkins on his well-deserved retirement after decades of public service.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Loella Haskew as she retires from the Walnut Creek City Council. Loella was born in Staten Island, New York and moved to California shortly before her senior year of high school. She earned her Bachelor of Science in accounting from Golden Gate University, graduating summa cum lade, and later went on to earn her Master's in taxation. She then joined Golden Gate University as an adjunct instructor. Additionally, Loella served on the Statewide Committee of Taxation for the California Society of CPAS and was critical in drafting questions used for the CPA exam. Loella is a devoted public servant and has shown her steadfast dedication to improving the lives of CA-10 residents. She has served on City Council since 2012 and served as Mayor in 2016, 2020, and most recently in 2024. Throughout her career, Loella has been highly engaged with the community, serving on the Kennedy-King Memorial College Scholarship Fund, the Diablo Regional Arts Association's board, the Walnut Creek Library Foundation board, Cancer Support Community board, and more. Loella has worked tirelessly to empower our community's youth. She volunteered as a soccer referee with the Pleasant Hill/ Martinez Soccer Association, where she twice earned the title of ``Referee of the Year.'' Loella has continually demonstrated her commitment to improving quality of life for Walnut Creek residents and making our community a better place for all. Please join me in congratulating Loella Haskew on her well-deserved retirement after over a decade of outstanding public service.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of Dave Hudson as he retires from the City of San Ramon. Throughout his career, Dave has been dedicated to his community and to improving the lives of Bay Area residents. Dave began his career with the City of San Ramon on the city's planning commission. He served on City Council for 23 years and was elected as Mayor of San Ramon in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. His leadership and dedication helped guide the city through this challenging time. During his time on City Council, Dave worked to protect the East Bay's open spaces, improve transportation throughout the region, and improve quality of life for all San Ramon residents. He was instrumental in the development of the CityWalk Master Plan, a mixed-use district in Bishop Ranch that would provide residents access to retail, dining, and recreational amenities. Dave's leadership has helped to increase access to affordable housing in the Tri-Valley and foster a vibrant community in San Ramon. Dave has also been a strong advocate for all Bay Area residents, working to improve regional transportation efforts, ensure California continues to lead the way in curbing carbon emissions, and more. He served as Board Chair for the Contra Costa Transportation Authority in 2008 and 2016, was part of Tri-Valley Transportation Committee, and played a key role in the development of the Valley Link Rail and Caldecott Tunnel. Additionally, Dave has worked with a number of regional organizations including the League of California Cities, the Association of Bay Area Governments, East Bay Municipal Utility District, San Ramon Valley Unified School District, and more and served as Chair of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) in 2018. Dave has worked tirelessly throughout his career to bring community members together and to foster opportunity within the Bay Area. Please join me in congratulating Dave Hudson on his well-deserved retirement after decades of public service.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of Lara DeLaney as she retires from her role as Contra Costa County Senior Deputy County Administrator. Lara was born in Southern California and raised in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. She attended school in Jeddah where she excelled in athletics, serving as captain of the volleyball and swim teams and being the second-ranked women's tennis player in Jeddah. She then returned to the United States, studying literature at U.C. Santa Cruz and going on to earn her Master's in Regulatory and Aggregate Policy from the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. Lara then joined the San Joaquin Council of Governments as a Senior Regional Planner, focusing on transportation and land use policy. Throughout her career, Lara has demonstrated her steadfast dedication to improving the lives of Contra Costa residents. Lara moved to Martinez, California in 1998 and began her role as Senior Management Analyst for the Contra Costa County Administrator's Office where she has diligently served our community for the last 26 years. In this role, Lara has worked with a number of county agencies, providing legislative analysis and interacting with state and federal lobbyists. Furthermore, she was instrumental in establishing the County's Office of Reentry & Justice, which works to reduce recidivism rates, provide support to formerly incarcerated individuals, and promote equity. She also played a key role in the development of the County's Arts & Culture Master Plan. Additionally, Lara served on the Martinez City Council for over twenty years. She has been highly engaged with the Martinez Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club, Boys and Girl Club, and spearheaded the Joe DiMaggio Hometown Hero Project. Please join me in congratulating Lara Delaney on her well-deserved retirement after decades of outstanding public service.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Sandra Mae King Hall. Sandra was raised in Fresno, California alongside her eleven siblings. She graduated from San Joaquin Memorial High School and went on to pursue a career in real estate investment, property management, and newspaper distribution. Sandra played a critical role in protecting local journalism, operating a newspaper distributorship with her husband, Frank Hall, providing local news to Pleasant Hill residents from 1977 through 2009. She has received numerous accolades for her contributions to the business community, earning the Pleasant Hill Business Person of the Year Award in 1986 and the 2010 American Association of Independent News Distributors Award. Additionally, Sandra was selected as former Congressman George Miller's delegate at the 1986 White House Conference on Small Business. Outside of her work as an entrepreneur, Sandra loved music, travel, and giving back to her community. Her passion for music was evident to all who knew her, practicing international folk dances and singing in the choir. Throughout her life, Sandra was very dedicated to her community and was involved with the Kiwanis Club of Martinez, Boys and Girls Club of Martinez, and St. Catherine of Siena parish. Sadly, Sandra passed away at the age of 77 on September 15, 2024. She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Frank Hall; her children, Janene Sides (David) and Michael Nicol (Christina); her grandchildren Robert (Kaitlyn), Christina, Daniel, Sarah, and Madisen; her great- grandchildren, Quinn, Soleil, and Elijah; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other family members. She will be remembered for her entrepreneurial spirit, sense of humor, and remarkable leadership. Please join me in recognizing Sandra Hall for her many contributions to our community.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and work of Norma Griffin. Norma was a devoted educator, deeply committed to her community and empowering young people. She was a native New Yorker who settled in Concord, California, with her husband, Ralph, and their two sons, Ralph and Steven. She worked for over three decades in education, teaching in the New York public school system, the Oakland Unified School District, the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, and overseas in Japan and France. On top of teaching, Norma was a founding member of the Black Families Association of Contra Costa County in the bay area. She was a member of the Oakland Symphony Chorus and served as president of the American Association of University Women's local chapter. For her work, Norma was recognized in 1995 as Teacher of the Year and Woman of the Year for State Assembly District 11 in the California legislature in 2008. Sadly, Norma has passed away, and our hearts are with her friends and family. Norma will be remembered for her kindness, determination, and courage. Please join me in honoring Norma Griffin for her incredible impact on our community and on this country.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, the time for nuclear weapons stockpiling is over. Instead, we should focus on the United States leading the world in disarmament and diplomacy. As the ultimate weapon of war, nuclear weapons should be an absolute last resort or no resort. With the U.S. having enough nuclear weapons to destroy the world, they become more than a deterrent. They become a threat to ourselves and the rest of the world. Today's landscape paints a picture of even more reasons to act swiftly. The last remaining agreement limiting the world's two largest arsenals is set to expire in 2026, and China has increased its arsenal from 100 to 300 nuclear weapons on their long-range missiles. At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin has refused to take up President Biden's offer to discuss a new nuclear arms control framework. China's leaders have also rejected U.S. offers for follow-up talks on nuclear risk reduction and arms control issues. As indiscriminate killers, nuclear weapons will not be the answer to our current or future problems. It is in the world's best interests and the United States', as the leader of these interests, that we reengage in efforts to produce a new framework with Russia and China to further cap and reduce nuclear arsenals. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. McGovern for being a leader on this important issue and bringing us together to discuss it.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of David Biggs as he retires from his role as City Manager of Orinda. David has brought a deep understanding of urban development to his work as City Manager of Orinda. After earning a degree in political science from California State University, Fullerton, he went on to earn his MBA from University of California Irvine. For the last ten years of his career, David has served as city manager of two cities in the East Bay, first in Hercules starting in 2014 and later in Orinda, beginning in 2021. During his time as City Manager of Orinda, he has worked tirelessly to serve our community, from his role in making Juneteenth an official holiday to his work to enhance Orinda's downtown area. David's hard work has helped to increase quality of life and foster a vibrant community throughout the city. Further, David has been a leader in improving Orinda's roads, helping to improve connectivity throughout the city. He was instrumental in the continuation of this long-term project, which began in 2012, and his efforts improved the city's Pavement Condition Index (PCI) score from one of the lowest in the region to the second highest in the Bay Area. In recognition of his service, David was also awarded the 2020 Local Government Service Award by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), an accolade he certainly earned for his years of dedicated service to the people of Orinda and the East Bay. Please join me in congratulating David Biggs on his well-deserved retirement after years of outstanding public service.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of longtime Concord resident Rose Marie Hansen. Rose Marie was born in Kansas, where she spent many of her formative years working on the family farm with her father and brother. She eventually moved to Oakland, California where she worked as a nanny. Shortly after, Rose Marie met her husband Alfred ``Bud'' Hansen at a dance in Alameda. The two married in 1941 and were together for 52 years until Bud's passing in 1993. She and her husband owned a contracting business and later partnered with a local businessman to open a bowling alley and retail complex, known today as Clayton Fair Properties. When Bud passed away in the early 90s, Rose Marie took over as manager, a position she held until 2023, helping lead the successful business for more than sixty years. Rose Marie was also very active in her community, volunteering at Concord's First Presbyterian Church where she served as an accountant, Deacon, and Elder. She also volunteered at The American Cancer Society as their coordinator of transportation for over 21 years, served as President of the Concord Diablo Historical Society for over 7 years, and traveled the world as International President of the USA Inner Wheel Association. On top of it all, she was also Vice President for the Concord Homes Board of Directors, overseeing the development of two multi-story residential buildings for seniors. Rose Marie will be greatly missed, but I am confident her impact will be felt in the community for generations to come. Please join me in recognizing Rose Marie for her many contributions to our community and devoted service to the City of Concord.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of longtime Concord resident Rose Marie Hansen. Rose Marie was born in Kansas, where she spent many of her formative years working on the family farm with her father and brother. She eventually moved to Oakland, California, where she worked as a nanny. Shortly after, Rose Marie met her husband, Alfred ``Bud'' Hansen, at a dance in Alameda. The two married in 1941 and were together for 52 years until Bud's passing in 1993. She and her husband owned a contracting business and later partnered with a local businessman to open a bowling alley and retail complex, known today as Clayton Fair Properties. When Bud passed away in the early 1990s, Rose Marie took over as manager, a position she held until 2023, helping the successful business for more than 60 years. Rose Marie was also very active in her community, volunteering at Concord's First Presbyterian Church where she served as an accountant, deacon, and elder. She also volunteered at the American Cancer Society as their coordinator of transportation for over 21 years, served as president of the Concord Diablo Historical Society for over 7 years, and traveled the world as international president of the of the USA Inner Wheel Association. On top of it all, she was also vice president of the Concord Homes Board of Directors, overseeing the development of two multi-story residential buildings for seniors. Rose Marie will be greatly missed, but I am confident her impact will be felt in the community for generations to come. Please join me in recognizing Rose Marie for her many contributions to our community and devoted service to the city of Concord.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Larry Fisher. Throughout his life, Larry showed incredible dedication to his community. He was a proud alumnus of the University of Southern California. After his graduation from USC, he served as executive director of the California Democratic Party. In 1966, he joined Braun and Company and rose through the ranks to become CEO of this international public relations firm, which eventually became Braun and Ketchum. In his retirement, Larry moved to the bay area with his wife, Betty, and briefly worked as director for Options Recovery in Berkeley, California, assisting people through the process of recovering from addiction. He then became the spiritual director, working with clients to help them find new meaning in life. Sadly, Larry passed away this year. Our hearts are with his wife, Betty; their children, Timothy and Lara; and the rest of their family. Larry will be remembered for his outstanding character and community contributions. Please join me in honoring Larry Fisher for his incredible impact on his community, his State, and the country. Incredible Accomplishments of Amit Elor

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Amit Elor for making history as the youngest wrestler from Team USA to earn an Olympic Gold Medal. Amit was born and raised in Walnut Creek, California, and has been wrestling since the age of 4. In 2022, Amit won under 23, then under 20, and senior world titles, making her the youngest U.S. senior world champion in wrestling. She went on to win those titles again in 2023, making her the only wrestler in history to win these three titles 2 years in a row. In August, Amit won an Olympic Gold Medal in the women's freestyle in her weight group. Her astonishing skill and unwavering dedication to the sport make her an inspiration for the next generation of girls' wrestling. Our community is incredibly proud of Amit, and it was a delight to root for her during the Paris Olympics alongside California's 10th Congressional District. Please join me in congratulating Amit Elor on her incredible accomplishments and the many more to come. Honoring the Life of Bette Boatmun

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and work of Bette Boatmun. Bette was a trailblazer for women in leadership in the community, water agencies in California, and in special districts. She was a native New Yorker who settled in Concord, California, with her family of six. In 1974, Bette was appointed to the Contra Costa Water District's Board, and she served in that seat for over 46 years. She was instrumental in implementing many significant projects, such as building the Randall-Bold Water Treatment Plant and expanding Los Vaqueros Reservoir. Bette was passionate about bringing more women into elected office and into the water industry. She was an active member of many organizations, including the Concord branch of American Association of University Women, Soroptimist International of the Americas, and many others. In 2020, the Association of California Water Agencies presented her with a lifetime achievement award for her lasting contributions to California water. Sadly, Bette passed away last week, on September 19, and our hearts are with her family. Bette will be remembered as a remarkable leader and a true visionary when it came to water conservation and women in politics. Please join me in honoring Bette Boatmun for her incredible impact on our environment, her community, the State of California, and this country.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Larry Fisher. Larry was born in Los Angeles, California and attended the University of Southern California where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and served as editor of the Daily Trojan. Shortly after earning his degree in Journalism, Larry moved to Sacramento to serve on the staff of Jesse M. Unruh, former Speaker of the California State Assembly. He subsequently returned to Los Angeles and served as executive director of the California Democratic Party before joining Braun and Company as an account executive in 1966. He served as CEO of Braun and Company's international public relations firm, Braun Ketchum, where he spent many years directing corporate media campaigns and providing counsel to executives. Upon retiring from Braun Ketchum, Larry and his wife, Betty, moved to the Bay Area. After a stint working as a director and case manager for Options Recovery in Berkeley, Larry embarked on a new path, entering a three-year program to become a spiritual director. He worked with clients in both individual and group settings, helping them find new meaning and direction. Sadly, Larry passed away in May 2024. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Betty, their children, L. Timothy (Monaliza Fisher), and Lara (Justin Darisse), and his grandchildren, Emma, Aiden, and Cameron. Larry will be remembered for his outstanding character and the incredible impact he had on his community. Please join me in recognizing Larry for his many contributions to our community and devoted service to the State of California.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Amit Elor for making history as the youngest American wrestler to earn an Olympic gold medal. Amit was born and raised in Walnut Creek, California and had been wrestling since age four. From a very young age, Amit has exemplified her astonishing skill and unwavering dedication to the sport. She attended College Park High School in Pleasant Hill, California where she earned the California high school state title in folkstyle wrestling. By the age of eighteen, Amit had won senior, U23, and U20 world titles in the span of just three months, making her the youngest U.S. senior world champion in any discipline or gender. Amit retained these titles in 2023, making her the only wrestler to win three titles two years in a row. In August, Amit won an Olympic gold medal in the women's freestyle 68kg wrestling event. This historic victory made Amit the youngest wrestler from Team USA to ever win gold. Since 2019, Amit has accumulated 42 wins and outscored her opponents 375-19. We are eager to see her make history again in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Our community is beyond proud of Amit and it has been a delight to root for her during this year's Paris Olympics alongside California's 10th Congressional District. Please join me in congratulating Amit on her incredible accomplishments and the many more to come.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of Teresa Gerringer and congratulate her on her retirement. Throughout her life, Teresa has devoted herself to public service and diligently served the City of Lafayette for nearly 23 years. She received her MBA from Pepperdine University and BS in Public Administration from Indiana University, Bloomington. Teresa and her family have lived in Lafayette since 1995 where she has been an active leader in the community. Her career serving the residents of Lafayette began when she was elected to the Lafayette School District, where she served as a trustee for 18 years. She then served as District Director for Senator Steve Glazer from 2015 to 2019, diligently working for the people of California Senate District 7. After her time in the State Senate, she went on to serve as Communications Director for Contra Costa County Supervisor Diane Burgis, District 3 where she played a critical role in the county's 2020 census work. Ultimately, she was promoted to Chief of Staff for Supervisor Burgis in 2022 where she provided key policy recommendations on a wide range of regional matters. In addition to her other work above, Teresa was elected to the Lafayette City Council in 2018 and served one year as Mayor. During her time on council, Teresa spearheaded the creation of Lafayette Community Day--an annual day-of-service in which volunteers work on community projects around Lafayette, working to improve quality of life for all Lafayette residents. Additionally, she and the Lafayette City Council advocated for the Safe Routes to Acalanes High School project which aims to create a protected pathway on Pleasant Hill Road to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety. Beyond her work in government and as an elected official, Teresa was a member of the Lafayette Community Foundation, serving as president, VP of fund development, and VP of communications for the board during her tenure. She also served as a charter member of the Lafayette Library & Learning Center Foundation Board and co-chair of the Lafayette Library & Learning Center Community Capital Campaign. Further, she was an advisor to the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and the California State PTA. Throughout her career and through her volunteer work, Teresa has worked tirelessly to serve Lafayette residents and Contra Costans. Please join me in congratulating Teresa Gerringer on her well- deserved retirement after many years of outstanding public service.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Dr. Ronald G. Campos, an Internal Medicine Doctor and longtime member of the East Bay community. Ron was born in Nicaragua and immigrated to the United States with his two sisters at the age of two. He received a bachelor's degree in microbiology from UC Berkeley, a medical degree from UC San Francisco, and completed his residency at the Veterans Memorial Hospital in Martinez, CA. Shortly thereafter, Ron opened his own practice in 1979, caring for thousands of patients over the span of his 45-year medical career. He also co-founded the Hospitalist Program at John Muir Hospital in 1996, expanding access to care in our region. On top of his medical practice, Ron was highly involved in our community, holding leadership positions and serving as an engaged member in several local organizations, including the Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce of Contra Costa County, the Diablo Valley Filipino- American League, and the Human Relations Commission of Concord, CA. He and his family were also active members in Hillside Covenant Church's prison ministries program. In his free time, he enjoyed golf and Warriors basketball. Sadly, Ron passed away in June. He is survived by his wife of over 46 years, Zenaida, his two sons, Mark and Jeremy, his sisters, Marlene and Esther, his daughter-in-law Charisse, and three grandchildren, Dakota, Kenyon, and Tristan. His loss will certainly be felt by many in our community, but his legacy will live on for years to come. Please join me in recognizing Dr. Campos for his contributions and devoted service to Contra Costa County.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of James ``Jim'' Hatch. Jim was dedicated to serving our community and was always kind and helpful. Included in his long career, he assisted with former Congressman George Miller's campaign and the Youth Fund. Additionally, Jim was incredibly hardworking and was a skilled handyman. He also enjoyed traveling the world and was a proud dog parent to Minnie the Pooch. Jim will be remembered for his optimism, positivity, and the impact he's had on countless lives. Jim is survived by Carol, his loving wife of 60 years, and his children Suzanne (Rob) and Jill (Steve), grandchildren Sophie (Joshua), Sarah (Rick), Matthew, Lauren, Kristi (Ben) and Sarah (Jason Henry), great grandchildren Olivia and Cameron, his sister Sandra, brother Robert, and bonus daughter and grandsons Tomoko, Hiro, and Akira Tamura. Please join me in honoring my friend Jim Hatch. He will be remembered for his outstanding character and his commitment to his community.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to recognize the upcoming 80th anniversary of the Port Chicago explosion and to honor and seek justice for the Port Chicago 50, an incident that led President Harry Truman at the time to desegregate the United States Navy. On Monday, July 17, 1944, at 10:18 p.m., disaster struck. Crewmembers were working in shifts around the clock to load munitions onto newly built ships so they could be sent off to fight in the Pacific in World War II. This explosion ripped through the shipyard at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine, about 18 miles northeast of San Francisco. The explosion killed or wounded 710 people, 435 of whom were African- American sailors. This was the deadliest homefront disaster of World War II. This explosion was felt in downtown San Francisco as windows shook, and people thought there was an earthquake. In another blow to the survivors, 50 of the brave enlisted men, all of whom were African American, refused to return to the unsafe working conditions that led to the explosion. They were discriminately convicted of mutiny. Those men are now known as the Port Chicago 50. They were heroes, not traitors, who deserve to be fully exonerated 80 years later. Indicative of the discriminatory practices and segregation policies at the time, all the enlisted men loading ammunition at the site were African Americans while all the officers were White. None of the African-American ammunition loaders were formally trained in the safe handling of munitions, as opposed to the Teamsters on the West Coast, who were White and properly trained. After the explosion, the survivors were in a state of shock, troubled by the vivid memory of the horrible explosion in which so many of their friends had died. The day after the explosion, about 200 of the Black enlisted men helped with the cleanup operation. One survivor recalled: ``I was there the next morning. We went back to the dock. Man, it was awful. That was a sight. You would see a shoe with a foot in it. . . . You would see a head floating across the water, just the head, or an arm, bodies. Just awful.'' ``Everybody was scared,'' another survivor recalled. ``If someone dropped a box or slammed a door, people began jumping around like crazy.'' Many of the Black survivors expected to be granted survivors' leave before being reassigned to regular duty. Those leaves were never granted for the African-American sailors, not even for the men who had been hospitalized. All the African-American sailors were sent back to work, loading ammunition under the same officers as before, but White officers were allowed to go home for 30-day leaves. As the men marched to go back to work 3 weeks after the incident at another dock, they knew that, at a certain junction in the road, if they were ordered to turn right, they were going to the parade ground, but if they were ordered to turn left, they were going to continue to load ammunitions, just like they were 3 weeks earlier. At the moment the sailors were ordered to go left, and they all stopped, one of the officers asked the sailor, Joseph Small, the lead African American, why they stopped. He responded to the White officer: We are scared, sir. Mr. Speaker, 328 of the sailors followed him and refused to return to work, 258 were imprisoned as a result, and 50 were later charged with conspiring to make mutiny. This was not mutiny. There was no active rebellion, revolt, or coordinated effort to overthrow a command as required by law. It was men who, after having to witness and even clean up the bloody aftermath of this explosion, feared for their lives and were being forced to return to the same unfair conditions and to worry every day whether they would be next. Thurgood Marshall, who ultimately became involved in their trial on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay for the Port Chicago 50, once said: ``What's at stake here is more than the rights of my clients; it's the moral commitment stated in our Nation's creed.'' This quote rings even more true today, 80 years later. By not taking action to exonerate these brave men, we are reaffirming the discriminatory action taken against them 80 years ago. By refusing to stand up for their innocence, we are sanctioning the discrimination they faced 80 years ago. It is long past time that we right this historical injustice and officially clear the record.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was unable to vote today. Had I been present, I would have voted: Yea on Roll Call No. 337, the Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act (H.R. 5441).