Anna Eshoo

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the gentleman from Nebraska, the very distinguished Mr. Fortenberry. I thank him for his words and for his magnificent remarks here on the floor this evening. We obviously share the same sentiments. I think if anyone is tuned in this evening for what we call a Special Order, the Congress is not really held in great regard today, but there is on a day-to-day basis for so many of us a discovery of deep friendship that is created, that comes about because we work so closely together on something that binds us, where we have not only common ground, but the deep, deep values of our country that are embedded in us and everyone here, people across the country, and that we get to work on it together. Congressman Fortenberry is my brother, and I thank him. I thank him from the bottom of my heart for the values that he has expressed, the work that he has put into this, and what it means to the people that we are speaking for. This resolution expresses the sense of the Congress that the atrocities that are being perpetrated by ISIS, they constitute war crimes, and they are genocide against religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq and Syria and throughout the region. Now, over the past decade we have really witnessed an acceleration. It started when there was the invasion of Iraq, but it has heightened as the years have gone on. And now the assault on Christians and other religious minorities, particularly by ISIS, has moved to a level of barbarism that we read about in the history books, and is taking place, imagine, in the 21st century. It has included the torture and the murder of thousands, the displacement of millions, including Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, Armenians, Turkmen, Sabea-Mandeans, Kaka`e, Amalekites, and the Yazidis that Mr. Fortenberry has spoken to and represents so magnificently. These are families that are being torn apart, fathers and sons being executed, mothers and daughters being enslaved and raped. The USA Today columnist, Kirsten Powers, painted a very vivid picture when she wrote in December of last year: In October, Islamic State militants in Syria demanded that two Christian women and six men convert to Islam. When they refused, the women were publicly raped, and then beheaded along with the men. On the same day, militants cut off the fingertips of a 12-year old boy in an attempt to force his Christian father to convert. When his father refused, they were brutalized and they were both crucified. Today, there are fewer than 500 Christians remaining in Iraq, down from as many as 1.5 million in 2003. Now, the United Nations has written, come up with a definition some time ago of what genocide actually is: Any of the following acts committed with an intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction, in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; and forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. This is genocide, and this is what is actually taking place today. Despite the persecution of these hundreds of thousands of religious minorities, the United States has not spoken out; but tonight the United States House of Representatives has. And this is a seminal moment for the House to have taken this on and to express unanimously that this is genocide. There are many things that we have worked on together, as members of, and other members as well, of the House Religious Minority Caucus; humanitarian aid, protection, faster refugee processing for these vulnerable communities, and an official statement by the Congress. Tonight that happened. We have labeled these atrocities for what they are, genocide. I think that Congressman Fortenberry has stated in a most eloquent way why this is important. First of all, this is one of the great values of our country, one of the great, great values of our country, where we recognize religions of people of all religious backgrounds. Our Constitution, in just a few words, in just a few words, I believe, has prevented bloodshed, whereas in other places, it takes place. It is as deeply meaningful to me as a first-generation American, the only Member of the entire Congress that is of Assyrian and Armenian descent. This is a repeat of history of my family. It is why I am a first-generation American, because my grandparents fled, both sides of my family, the Armenian side and the Assyrian side, for this very reason, because they were being hunted down and persecuted because they were Christians. We know that a century ago the world witnessed--but the House and the Congress is still silent on this, and we have to address that, too-- when the Ottoman Empire rounded up and murdered Armenians, Greeks, and other minorities in Constantinople. By 1923, there were some 1.5 million women, children, and men who were lost. It was a systematic campaign that we now know as and call the Armenian Genocide. So for those in my family who told the stories, my grandparents, my parents, this is, for me, a bittersweet evening. But I think that they are all proud, those who have been called to God, and those who are still with us, that the United States House of Representatives is calling this out for what it is. It matters when the United States speaks. Our voices collectively, this evening, are going to echo around the world; and the stability, as Congressman Fortenberry spoke to, of these minority communities, have really been the glue that have held these ancient communities together for so long. I, too, share the hope and pray for the day that there will be peace in the region and that they will be recognized and honored in their communities, on the lands, these ancient lands, with their ancient faiths. I think that is the collective hope of all of us. The stability and, I think, the cultural identity of the Middle East depends on this. The United States has always championed human rights, basic human rights, and civil and religious liberties, both at home and abroad. Whenever we go abroad, those are the issues that we raise with whomever we are meeting with. I think that these are our most cherished values and, I think, America's greatest export. During his trip to South America in July of 2015, Pope Francis called for an end to this genocide of Christians in the Middle East, saying, ``In this third world war which we are now experiencing, a form of genocide is taking place, and it must end.'' I think his voice spoke, obviously, for the voiceless. Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos, the Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Church of Chicago, recently wrote in the Wall Street Journal the following: ``It may seem like we in the United States have little ability to change conditions in the Middle East and elsewhere. But that outlook has too often led to inaction and great regret after crimes against humanity have been allowed to unfold without intervention. The United States and other members of the U.N. made a solemn vow in 2005 with the passage of the Responsibility to Protect, a response to crimes against humanity. With genocide occurring before our very eyes, we must properly identify the crimes and honor our international commitment under the Responsibility to Protect.'' So, Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, with the words of Pope Francis, Bishop Demetrios, countless advocates across our country and around the world, and the 203 bipartisan cosponsors of this resolution, and the voice of the entire House, unanimous vote this evening of this resolution, I am very proud. I am very proud and I am lastingly grateful to be a part of this body that has spoken as one on this issue of enormous import and morality because we, tonight, have let it be known to the world that this is, in fact, the horror of genocide that is taking place in the Middle East. Again, it is a moment of great pride to me, certainly to my family and to people, not only my own people, but to those across the United States, the religious leaders of all faiths that have spoken out. This tonight, the evening of March 14, 2016, will live on and historians will record that we indeed did the right thing. So I thank you all. Historians will record that we indeed did the right thing. So I thank you all.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the San Mateo County Transit District, known locally as SamTrans, and congratulate its Board and everyone at the agency. SamTrans has provided important bus service throughout San Mateo County since it carried its first passengers on July 1, 1976. SamTrans was formed through the consolidation of 11 separate city bus systems into a single countywide service. Since its beginning, SamTrans has provided bus service to several heavily populated employment centers on the San Francisco Peninsula. SamTrans also provides critical service to the rural coast of San Mateo County which is home to agricultural workers and many other residents who are dependent on the SamTrans bus system to get to work, school, and medical appointments. SamTrans is also a leader in providing paratransit service for passengers with mobility impairments. In 1977, more than a decade before passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, SamTrans launched the Redi-Wheels program to provide on-demand, free transit service for passengers with disabilities. This innovative program now provides more than 1,000 trips per day. In 1988, SamTrans was named the managing agency of a half-cent sales tax measure approved by San Mateo County voters for transportation projects. This sales tax was renewed in 2004 and will be in effect through 2033. Three years later, SamTrans joined with the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board to purchase the Caltrain right-of-way from San Francisco to San Jose and ensure that this regional commuter rail remained in service. SamTrans now serves as the managing agency for Caltrain which is the spine of our transit system on the Peninsula and serves over 55,000 passengers on an average weekday. Today, SamTrans has a fleet of nearly 300 buses providing service to over 13 million riders per year. SamTrans operates on over 75 routes throughout San Mateo County, with service extended into parts of San Francisco and Palo Alto, and the District has continually improved and upgraded its service over the years to better align with demand. My own experience with SamTrans dates back to my service on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors from 1982 to 1992. Throughout my tenure on the Board and in Congress, I'm proud to have worked closely with SamTrans to ensure residents of San Mateo County have access to safe, efficient transportation options that reduce congestion and improve mobility on the Peninsula. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House to join me in honoring SamTrans for 40 years of superb service to the people of San Mateo County.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I was not present during rollcall vote number 36 on January 12, 2016. I would like to reflect that on rollcall vote number 36, I would have voted ``no.''

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Chair, I was not present during rollcall vote number 25 on January 8, 2016. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.'' personal explanation

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary leadership of John Martin and wish him every blessing in retirement as he steps down in 2016 from a distinguished career. John Martin has served as the leader of our nation's seventh busiest airport, San Francisco International (SFO) for two decades. It has been my pleasure and good fortune to have worked cooperatively with him throughout his career at SFO and I consider it a privilege to know him and call him my friend. John Martin served for 15 years as Deputy Airport Director for Business and Finance at SFO and was appointed Airport Director in 1995 by Mayor Frank Jordan, and served as CEO under three subsequent mayors. Under his wise leadership, John Martin has added immensely to the economic vitality of our region, completing the $3.5 billion International Terminal, raising the wages of service and security workers at SFO, and reducing the Airport's greenhouse gas emissions by 34 percent from 1990 levels. He worked to extend BART to SFO, built new parking garages and the Air Train people mover. During his tenure the airport added 25 new international carriers and currently serves nearly 50 million passengers a year. He opened the first LEED Gold airport terminal in the world, and has maintained SFO's leadership in safety and security practices. He created a culture of health and wellness among employees and provided unique guest services, making SFO the top concession revenue producer per passenger in the U.S. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in honoring John L. Martin for his extraordinary leadership of San Francisco International Airport, for the superb contributions he has made and the challenges he met over two decades. Today's SFO is a masterpiece of vision for the 21st century and I think John Martin is a national treasure.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to both resolutions before us today. Congress has a constitutional duty to conduct oversight of the Executive Branch, and the Congressional Review Act is an important tool in our toolbox. However, these resolutions are nothing more than partisan attempts to nullify the EPA's Clean Power Plan, sending a message to countries around the world of political discord in the United States as global climate change negotiations are taking place in Paris. Climate change is real and it is a threat to the entire world. The first nine months of 2015 were the warmest on record and these higher temperatures have contributed to the drought and wildfires that have ravaged my home state of California over the past five years. It's also a fact that the costs of failing to address climate change--both human and economic--grow with every year we fail to take action. A recently released United Nations report revealed that in the past two decades weather-related disasters have killed more than 600,000 people and cost trillions of dollars in economic losses. The report cited rising ocean temperatures and melting glaciers as two main drivers of extreme weather events which have increased at an alarming rate. The White House Council on Economic Advisers also calculated that failing to meet our climate goals will cost the U.S. $150 billion per year in reduced economic output. For each decade we ignore climate change, the costs of mitigation increase by 40 percent, which works out to approximately a $500 tax on every American each year, increasing by 40 percent every ten years. With Congress failing to act on climate change, the Administration is taking strong action which I support. As we speak, representatives from over 190 countries are working to produce a landmark agreement in Paris to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on a global scale and invest in clean energy technologies. Even before the negotiations began, countries that make up nearly 90 percent of global GHG output submitted pledges to cut their emissions, including major polluters such as China, India, and the United States. In the U.S., the Clean Power Plan is projected to reduce GHG emissions by 32 percent by 2030. There is global recognition of the threat of climate change and the two resolutions before the House today would invalidate a key part of our nation's responsibility to reduce global GHG emissions by preventing any future EPA regulation of carbon emissions from power plants. This is a blatantly transparent attempt to influence the Paris negotiations on behalf of the status quo and the special interests in the fossil fuel industry. I believe the mere consideration of these resolutions diminishes U.S. leadership and this institution in the eyes of the world community, and it condemns us to a future of even higher risks. I urge my colleagues to oppose these resolutions of disapproval.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, let me begin by saying I'm pleased that this bill includes several measures I have championed, including bills I've offered relating to energy efficiency and electric vehicles. However, I have to oppose this legislation because H.R. 8 fails to address climate change. In fact, the bill includes several controversial provisions that shift our nation's energy policy into reverse. I'm very grateful to Chairman Upton and Subcommittee Chairman Whitfield for including my legislation, the Energy Efficient Government Technology Act, in the base text of H.R. 8. This bipartisan, noncontroversial bill which I introduced with Rep. Kinzinger, received 375 votes on the House floor last year. This measure would save taxpayers millions of dollars and would make the federal government a leader in reducing energy use at data centers which can be highly inefficient. I also appreciate that two amendments I offered at the Energy and Commerce Committee markup of this bill were agreed to by voice vote and are included in the Manager's Amendment. The first would allow federal agencies to offer electric vehicle charging stations to guests and employees, a practice that is not currently allowed. The second would add transparency requirements to ensure that only critical infrastructure information is protected from FOIA requests, and that this designation is periodically reviewed to ensure this authority is not abused. These provisions are incremental but important steps toward promoting innovation and deployment of clean and energy-saving technologies. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the rest of H.R. 8. With historic international climate negotiations currently underway in Paris, this so-called ``comprehensive'' energy bill does not include a single reference to climate change or promotion of renewable resources. This represents the squandering of an opportunity to put in place a 21st century energy policy for our country that promotes clean energy and reduces our dependence on the fossil fuel resources that cause climate change. H.R. 8 includes several controversial provisions that my colleagues and I opposed at Committee and that are also opposed by the Administration. For example, the bill contains unnecessary provisions to short-circuit the review process for exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The current process, which requires the Department of Energy to ensure that all exports are in the public interest of the United States, is working and already has us on track to be the largest LNG exporter in the world within a decade. H.R. 8 also includes provisions that would require a short-sighted view of energy efficiency investments in building codes, and it would repeal the requirement that all new and remodeled federal buildings phase out fossil fuel use by 2030. Lastly, the Manager's Amendment includes a highly controversial bill from the Natural Resources Committee that would limit public review and direct more natural gas pipelines to be built on public lands, including National Parks. Again, I appreciate the Chairman's willingness to accept my bipartisan additions to this bill, but I cannot support this legislation and I urge my colleagues to oppose it.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the work of Father Michael C. McCarthy, S.J. and wish him every blessing as he begins a new and challenging chapter in his life. Father McCarthy, known affectionately to all as ``Father Mick'' has served with great distinction as Edmund Campion University Professor at Santa Clara University and Executive Director of the University's Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education for five years. In January, 2016, Father McCarthy will begin a new career at Fordham University as Vice President for Mission Integration and Planning and as Presidential Assistant for Planning. Father McCarthy was born on July 20, 1964 in San Francisco, was raised in the City of St. Francis, and is the youngest of six children. He is a graduate of St. Ignatius College Prep in San Francisco where he received the Ignatian Award. He began his college career at Stanford University, but after entering the Jesuit Novitiate a year later he continued his education at Santa Clara University. He earned his Master of Divinity at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, his BA/MA in Philosophy and Classical Literature at Oxford University, and his Ph.D. at the University of Notre Dame. He took his First Vows in August, 1985, was ordained Deacon in March 1996, Presbyter in June 1996, and served as House Consultor of the Jesuit Community from 2007 to 2010. During Father McCarthy's stellar years at Santa Clara he founded the ``Thriving Neighbors Initiative'', a community based program that serves low income minorities by providing university students to mentor and tutor elementary school children and their parents. He was also Director of the Catholic Studies Program and Associate Professor with a joint appointment in the Religious Studies and Classics Departments. He has published countless articles and book chapters and has made numerous presentations, most of them in his chosen research areas of early Christianity, early Biblical exegesis, St. Augustine, and early asceticism and spirituality. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in honoring Father Michael McCarthy for his extraordinary leadership at Santa Clara University and wishing him well in his new position at Fordham University where he will undoubtedly have an exceedingly bright future. Santa Clara's great loss is Fordham's enormous gain. California, and especially Father McCarthy's 95-year-old mother, will miss him greatly, but his star is bright enough to shine on all of us from wherever he is.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I was not present during roll call vote number 637 on November 18, 2015 due to a previously scheduled appointment. I would like to reflect that on roll call vote number 637 I would have voted NO.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I was not present during rollcall No. 629 on November 17, 2015 due to an Energy and Commerce Committee hearing. I would like to reflect that on rollcall No. 629, I would have voted ``no.''

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2583, the Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2015, a bipartisan bill aimed at giving the FCC flexibility while promoting openness, transparency and accountability. In the 113th Congress, the House of Representatives considered and passed similar legislation by voice vote. The bill before us adds to the previously included reforms by including three legislative proposals offered during the Energy & Commerce Committee's debate. First, a proposal offered by Rep. Clarke would require the FCC to report quarterly to Congress and to post, on its website, data on the total number of decisions pending, categorized by bureau, the type of request, the length of time pending, as well as a list of pending Congressional investigations and their costs to the agency. Second, a proposal by Rep. Loebsack would require the Chairman to post the Commission's internal procedures on the FCC website and update the website when the Chairman makes any changes. Third, the underlying bill includes a proposal offered by Rep. Matsui which would require the FCC to coordinate with the Small Business Administration and issue recommendations to improve small business participation in FCC proceedings. Collectively the proposals by Reps. Clarke, Loebsack and Matsui would modernize and enhance transparency at the FCC without jeopardizing regulatory certainty or opening the Commission to legal challenges on every agency action. I'm also pleased that the bill incorporates the FCC Collaboration Act of 2015, a bipartisan bill I introduced earlier this year with Reps. Shimkus and Doyle. For years, current and former FCC Commissioners have called on Congress to pass `sunshine reform,' so that three or more Commissioners can hold non-public collaborative discussions, as long as no agency action is taken. While I remain disappointed that this provision will not take effect immediately upon enactment, I've concluded that any further delay in implementation is the unnecessary delay of a much needed reform. I thank Chairman Walden for working with me and my staff to put forward a bipartisan bill and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2583.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Chair, this amendment makes a very simple change to existing law that will allow federal employees to plug in their electric vehicles at work. I was surprised to learn last year that my constituents who work and volunteer at federal facilities cannot charge their electric vehicle (EV) at their workplace. As the nation's largest employer, the federal government should lead by example in terms of offering workplace charging. However, a quirk in existing law prohibits federal agencies from constructing charging stations or even entering into contracts with third parties to build charging infrastructure. This amendment would simply authorize the federal government to install EV charging stations at federal facilities. It is based on the text of the bipartisan H.R. 3509, which I introduced together with Representatives Massie, Lofgren, and Woodall, and it was recently approved by the Energy and Commerce Committee by voice vote as an amendment to H.R. 8. This straightforward amendment does not contain any mandates or new spending, it simply allows federal agencies to offer EV charging stations and charge a fee for their use. The amendment is modeled after a successful initiative here at the U.S. Capitol. It requires stations to be installed and operated with funds collected from the use of the stations. This small but commonsense change to the law will ensure the U.S. remains a leader in clean energy deployment and would expand transportation options for many of our constituents at no cost to the taxpayer. I urge my colleagues to support this simple, bipartisan amendment.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and work of a dedicated public servant of California's 18th Congressional District. Dick Rosenbaum was born and raised in Queens, New York, and died on October 11, 2015, at the age of 81. He leaves his wife of 57 years, Ruth; his son, Dan Rosenbaum; his daughter, Amy Rosenbaum and three grandchildren. Dick was a science prodigy who went to Brooklyn Tech and attended Cornell University on a full scholarship, and earned his Ph.D. in aeronautical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He and his wife moved to Palo Alto in 1963, and he worked as a research scientist for Lockheed for 31 years. Dick Rosenbaum served three times on the Palo Alto City Council, from 1971 to 1975 and from 1991 to 1999, serving as Mayor in 1998. He was called a ``fiscal bloodhound'' by the Palo Alto Weekly and was prescient about the dangers of excessive city spending. He was a residentialist who valued the quality of life in Palo Alto, and worked to preserve historic buildings. He supported low income housing but opposed overly dense projects. He wrote frequently for the Palo Alto Weekly, usually about fiscal matters. He was loved and respected by his colleagues for his integrity and sense of humor. I had the privilege to represent Dick and work with him on behalf of our mutual constituents. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House to join me in honoring the life and work of Dick Rosenbaum and in extending our condolences to his family. Our community and our country are stronger because of the life and work of Dick Rosenbaum.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. I thank the gentlewoman from California, the chair of the California Democratic delegation, and my dear friend and colleague. Mr. Speaker, it is really, I think, bittersweet this evening because we loved Congressman Don Edwards so much, and it is hard to imagine the world without him. He was the kind of human being that you wanted to have live forever. Instead, his contributions to our Nation, to the State of California, to his community are a record that will be revered for generations and generations and generations to come. There is a lot that has already been said about Don, beautiful things that have been said about Don, how he graduated from Stanford University and Stanford Law School, how he began his professional career as an FBI agent, and how he joined the Navy as an intelligence officer. So he served our country in many different roles, and, of course, the crown of his public service career was right here in the House of the people, the House of Representatives. He was a small-business man in a business that his father owned and that he became a part of during the 1950s, and then, of course, he was elected as a Democrat. In fact, I still have in my office an invitation that Don had sent out. I think it must have been for some fundraiser that he had had, but the cover of that invitation has Don Edwards standing next to a very young President of the United States, John F. Kennedy. Young children and those who helped elect John F. Kennedy and anyone else who comes through my office very often remark about the picture. It is something that I cherish, that my staff cherishes, and my constituents do. It has been said that he was elected to be the president of the California Young Republicans. That is a very prestigious organization, and I can just see Don, elegant in every way. He dressed magnificently. He had the most beautiful posture. The way he carried himself, he almost kind of glided down the hall. But he had a deep sense of humility about him. We talk about his greatness and his goodness, and he was never one to want to be served. His joy was in serving. And so he had more than a healthy dose of humility about him. Don Edwards had an eloquence about him that ran as deep as his beliefs. In my lifetime, he had two great love affairs. One was Edie, and the other was the Constitution. He loved the flag. He understood that that was a symbol of our country, but he knew that the Constitution, our Constitution, was the soul of our Nation, and that is where he embedded himself--in the Constitution and in the subcommittee that did its work to always reinforce and establish the constitutionality and make the Constitution live for people who it had not touched yet. If there is anything that would be noble, I think that that is, and the record that he built was one where he was the foremost champion of civil rights, having drafted every civil rights bill in the House of Representatives for two decades. What a record. What a magnificent record. He loved his community. I remember when he announced that he was retiring. He thanked his constituents for the patience that they had extended to him because, I think, many times in the debate about what is constitutional and how to extend rights to people, it is not always very popular in the beginning. We love our history once it has been made, but we struggle very hard and don't always recognize the opportunity at hand in that history is being made. In his gentle, elegant way, he thanked his constituents for the patience that they had had with him in that they had stayed with him so that he could do the work that he did on their behalf. He famously said, in the 1982 extension of the Voting Rights Act: ``If you can't vote, you are not a real citizen.'' So he understood where the nub of the dignity of citizenship rested: voting. I don't think he could really comprehend why the Voting Rights Act is not being brought up today so that we can all vote on it and improve what is so essential in the life of the citizens of our country. I think, Mr. Speaker, that Congressman Edwards would be very proud of his colleagues in the California Democratic delegation today, starting with our chair, Zoe Lofgren, who not only worked side by side with him, but now chairs our delegation. The values that he carried, the values that he loved and that he made so real and shared with everyone in the House, whether colleagues agreed or disagreed with him, they drew a great sense of joy from him because they knew the love of our Constitution and of our country that he carried, and so they respected him. What he carried and did here, I think he would be very proud of his fellow Californians for carrying those traditions on. I want to pay tribute especially to Shary Farr, Congressman Sam Farr's wife. As I said to Shary, because she was there when Don took his last breath, I feel that we were all there with him because she was. She did so much in seeing to the great care that was given to him until he took his last breath. There is a poet that wrote: And so he passed on, and all the trumpets sounded on the other side. God bless you, Don Edwards, for what you gave and created for our country. We bless your name, and we thank you for your service. It is an honor to honor you. We love the Edwards family, and we always will.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Chairman, the retired Navy Captain of the USS Cole said the following: ``The national security implications of changing the existing policy regulating the export of crude oil are rife with unknown and probably unintended consequences that must be fully considered and addressed.'' I agree with Commander Lippold. This bill largely ignores those important national security concerns, and it is why I urge my colleagues to oppose it.

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Chairman, I thank our ranking member. Mr. Chairman, I oppose this legislation for several reasons. First, except in very narrow circumstances, the bill does not allow any limits--not any limits--on exports of domestic oil regardless of potential threats to our national security, and that is our top responsibility as Members--our national security. For decades there has been a bipartisan commitment in Congress and several administrations to energy independence and reducing our reliance on foreign oil. Given the continued dependence of our economy and our military on oil, energy independence remains critical to our national defense. But with little consideration of any national security implications, this bill allows unlimited exports of a critical strategic resource. Mr. Chairman, the United States still imports 26 percent of the oil we consume and remains the world's top importer. Every barrel exported under this bill would have to be replaced by a barrel imported from elsewhere, leaving us more reliant on foreign countries. The bill allows the President to limit exports only if he declares an emergency under the National Emergencies Act or the International Emergency Economic Powers Act or if he is directed by the International Energy Agency to respond to an international supply crisis. Outside of these narrow circumstances, the bill permits no restrictions on exports of crude oil. This means strategic considerations such as decreasing our reliance on imports from unfriendly regimes can play no part in deciding whether to allow exports. I don't think that is a good deal at all. The bill also will have drastic impacts on the U.S. shipbuilding industry, tanker fleet, and refineries, all of which are critical to our national defense. Congress has recognized for nearly 100 years that it benefits our national security to maintain a robust domestic shipbuilding industry and commercial shipping fleet. For example, crude exports from Alaska which were legalized in 1995 must be carried on U.S.-flagged vessels crewed by Americans. This bill contains no requirement that exports be carried on U.S.-flagged tankers. Under current law, the President can allow exports of crude oil if he finds they are in the national interest. This bill would allow unlimited exports regardless of whether they are in the national security interests of the United States or not. I think that this is a slippery slope. Commander Kirk Lippold, the retired Navy Captain of the USS Cole, testified before Congress earlier this year.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, with passage of H.R. 3614 today, the House will ``kick the can down the road'' on a long-term FAA reauthorization for another six months. I certainly recognize the dire need to keep our airports and air travel system functioning in the face of an expiration of the FAA's authorization in less than 72 hours. However, I'm very disappointed that this bill does not contain any changes to current policy regarding aircraft noise impacts on communities surrounding airports. Over the last several months, constituents throughout my Congressional District have experienced an alarming increase in aircraft noise due to the implementation of new flight paths under the FAA's Next Gen program. The new flight paths have caused certain communities to be hit especially hard by airplane noise, and other rural communities that have never experienced it are now being bombarded by noise. Many of these communities received little or no advance notice or opportunity to comment on the flight path changes before they were implemented, and they were blindsided when the changes went into effect earlier this year. In July, I joined the Congressional Quiet Skies Caucus so that together we could make recommendations for the Transportation Committee to include in an FAA reauthorization bill. These recommendations include: ensuring that FAA completes a robust community engagement process before flight paths are changed; requiring the FAA to use a new method of measuring noise that captures the true levels of noise on the ground; removing the categorical exclusion from full environmental reviews for flight path changes; and mandating independent research on the health impacts of aviation noise. These important reforms would substantially improve the FAA's process of addressing and avoiding noise impacts. Once again, I wish to express my disappointment that the bill before us today simply reauthorizes the FAA for another six months with none of these important changes included. As the debate over a long-term FAA reauthorization continues, I hope these recommendations will be carefully considered and ultimately included in the final legislation. The ability to get a good night's sleep for thousands of my constituents depends on it.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the recipients of the sixteenth annual St. Madeleine Sophie Awards, given by Sacred Heart Schools (SHS), Atherton, California. The recipients of this prestigious and highly regarded recognition are individuals in the SHS community who have made a sustained and significant contribution to the Schools and embody the Goals and Criteria of a Sacred Heart education. Their commitment to the mission of a Sacred Heart education is a source of great inspiration to our entire community. This awards celebration will be held on September 23, 2015, in the Eileen Sullivan Connolly Auditorium in the Campbell Center for the Performing Arts at Sacred Heart Schools in Atherton. This year's award recipient, Marie VauDell, has given generously of her time, talent, and devotion to the Mission of the Society of the Sacred Heart. Marie VauDell was born in Redwood City to Edward and Josephine Imlach, and continues to live there today with her husband Doug and son Tyler. She attended St. Pius Elementary School; St. Francis High School in Mountain View; and earned her bachelor's degree in accounting from Santa Clara University, where she played on the women's softball team. After graduation, Marie obtained her Certified Public Accounting license. While working for Pearson, Del Prete & Co., LLP she was given the assignment of auditing Sacred Heart Schools in Atherton. This led Marie to depart her private sector accounting and become the school's Controller. Marie is a woman of many talents. She has inspired children to dance through her teaching of tap and jazz. She has hiked mountains and traversed forests as a member of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Search and Rescue Explorer Team. Marie has helped her local business community by serving as Vice President of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and promoted sports by sitting on the Little League Board. She enjoys travel, reading and sports, but what means the most to Marie and brings her the greatest joy is her family, especially seeing her son Tyler transition into adulthood. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in honoring the extraordinary work and contributions of Marie VauDell and congratulate her on being honored with the 2015 St. Madeleine Sophie Award.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the recipients of the sixteenth annual St. Madeleine Sophie Awards, given by Sacred Heart Schools (SHS), Atherton, California. The recipients of this prestigious and highly regarded recognition are individuals in the SHS community who have made a sustained and significant contribution to the Schools and embody the Goals and Criteria of a Sacred Heart education. Their commitment to the mission of a Sacred Heart education is a source of great inspiration to our entire community. This awards celebration will be held on September 23, 2015, in the Eileen Sullivan Connolly Auditorium in the Campbell Center for the Performing Arts at Sacred Heart Schools in Atherton. This year's award recipient, William V. Campbell, has given generously of his time, considerable talents, and deep devotion to the Mission of the Society of the Sacred Heart. Bill Campbell is Chair Emeritus of Columbia University's Trustees and is the Chair of the Board of Intuit Corporation. He has served as Intuit's President and CEO (1994-2000), and formerly was President and CEO of GO Corporation; Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Claris Corporation; and Executive Vice-President of Apple Computer. Mr. Campbell joined Apple Computer from Kodak in 1983 where he was General Manager of consumer products for Kodak Europe. Prior to joining Kodak, Bill was Vice President of J. Walter Thompson in New York. He recently retired from the Board of Directors of Apple, Inc. after 17 years of service. Bill served as a Trustee of Columbia University for 12 years, 9 as Chair of the Board. He has been Co-Chair of the Campaign Volunteer Leadership Committee, where he served on the Executive Steering Committee, and Co-Chair for Athletics. He was a founder of the Columbia Alumni Association and a member of the advisory group of the Columbia Entrepreneurship initiative. Bill served as the head football coach at Columbia from 1974 to 1979 and is a director of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. In addition to Bill's college football career, he has been the Head Coach for the Sacred Heart Middle School's powder puff football team which is a highlight for the eighth grade students. He has two children, James and Margaret and lives in Palo Alto, California. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in honoring the extraordinary work and contributions of Bill Campbell and congratulate him on being honored with the 2015 St. Madeleine Sophie Award.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the recipients of the sixteenth annual St. Madeleine Sophie Awards, given by Sacred Heart Schools (SHS), Atherton, California. The recipients of this prestigious and highly regarded recognition are individuals in the SHS community who have made a sustained and significant contribution to the Schools and embody the Goals and Criteria of a Sacred Heart education. Their commitment to the mission of a Sacred Heart education is a source of great inspiration to our entire community. This awards celebration will be held on September 23, 2015, in the Eileen Sullivan Connolly Auditorium in the Campbell Center for the Performing Arts at Sacred Heart Schools in Atherton. This year's award recipient, Jesus Ramos, has given generously of his time, talent, and devotion to the Mission of the Society of the Sacred Heart. Jesus Ramos is a Spanish instructor and coordinator of the Senior Honors Independent Study Program at Sacred Heart Schools in Atherton, California. In his 25 years as an educator in several independent schools, Jesus has worked in a wide range of school positions and functions: middle school academic dean; middle and high school Spanish teacher; World Languages department head; college counselor; founder of an office of Diversity and Inclusion; middle and high school admissions committees; coach; dorm faculty member; peer mentor and evaluator; and campus ministry. In these capacities he has gained invaluable collaborative, communication, problem-solving, and strategic planning fluencies: mediating between teachers, parents and students; directing curriculum design; overseeing the hiring and evaluation of new and returning teachers; working with faculty, students, the Admissions Office and the Head of Schools on issues of equity, justice and multiculturalism; counseling students and their families through the college application process; and equally exercising his duties as coach, faculty resident and classroom teacher. Jesus earned his B.A. in Theology and Spanish Literature and his M.A. in Spanish Literature from the University of Notre Dame. He resides in Menlo Park, California. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in honoring the extraordinary work and contributions of Jesus Ramos and congratulate him on being honored with the St. Madeleine Sophie Award.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the recipients of the sixteenth annual St. Madeleine Sophie Awards, given by Sacred Heart Schools (SHS), Atherton, California. The recipients of this prestigious and highly regarded recognition are individuals in the SHS community who have made a sustained and significant contribution to the Schools and embody the Goals and Criteria of a Sacred Heart education. Their commitment to the mission of a Sacred Heart education is a source of great inspiration to our entire community. This awards celebration will be held on September 23, 2015, in the Eileen Sullivan Connolly Auditorium in the Campbell Center for the Performing Arts at Sacred Heart Schools in Atherton. Margaret Beltramo has given generously of her time, considerable talents, and devotion to the Mission of the Society of the Sacred Heart. Margaret was born in South San Francisco, California, and moved to Portola Valley when she was three months old. She attended local schools, including Portola Valley Elementary School, Notre Dame High School, and University of Notre Dame de Namur, Belmont. She and her husband Dan, who met at a New Year's Eve dinner-dance in Menlo Park in 1964, have been married since 1966. They have two children, Dan, Jr. and Diana and four beautiful grandchildren, Lisa, Sara, Emily, and Thomas. Margaret serves her community in many capacities, and was instrumental in founding Families in Transition, an organization that served the people of East Palo Alto. She has left an indelible mark on the SHS campus, beginning with the Mothers' Club, which she was President of. In the late 1970's, she assisted the Director of Schools in a search for a new Montessori Director which brought Mary Gebhart to the position, strengthening the Montessori school immeasurably. In 1980, she joined the School's first Capital Campaign Committee which raised over $3.5 million to build the new McGanney Gymnasium and Sports Center in 1984. As a member of the Board of Trustees from 1981 to 1989, Margaret was involved with the painful decision to close the Boarding School and the challenging decision to make the school coeducational. These were exciting times for Sacred Heart, but what Margaret Beltramo is best remembered for is the establishment of the Sacred Heart Auction, a critical component of SHS's fund raising efforts. Mr. Speaker, I have known and admired Margaret Beltramo for more than four decades and I am blessed to call her my friend. As the mothers of children who grew up together and were educated by the Religious of the Sacred Heart, I saw first-hand how her organizational skills and dedication helped to expand SHS and build for a sound future. That's why Margaret Beltramo's talents and contributions on behalf of SHS are worthy of the St. Madeleine Sophie Award. I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in honoring the extraordinary work and contributions of Margaret Beltramo and congratulate her on being honored with the 2015 St. Madeleine Sophie Award. She has bettered our community and strengthened our country with all she has accomplished.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, today I voted for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. I did so because the world is approximately 90 days away from Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon, and this agreement is the most effective way of stopping that effort dead in its tracks. After years of sanctions and then direct negotiations, the United States and its partners, the P5+1, have produced a plan with unprecedented concessions from Iran, together with the most rigorous inspections, restrictions and verifications regimen ever negotiated. The agreement will reduce the number of Iran's centrifuges by two- thirds; prevent Iran from producing weapons-grade plutonium; and eliminate 98 percent of Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium. It grants the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to Iran's nuclear program so that compliance is ensured, including notification to the agency of plans to construct new nuclear facilities. No facility-- declared or undeclared--will be off limits. Decades of essential monitoring measures are included in the agreement that allow the IAEA to enforce these terms. The United States can unilaterally resume the U.N. Security Council sanctions if there is any violation by Iran of its commitments in the next ten years, and there can be no veto from Russia or China. This agreement is without precedent, and so is the current instability in the Middle East, undoubtedly fueled by the actions of Iran. It has the support of the entire United Nations, including the European Union, Russia, and China. Experts from all aspects of our defense, diplomatic, and scientific communities support the agreement, including 36 top officials in the U.S. military, 29 of our nation's leading scientists and engineers, 100 former ambassadors and diplomats, and more than 4,000 Catholic religious women. The agreement has the support of more than 400 American Rabbis, as well as former top officials of the Israeli security forces, Mossad Chief Efraim Halevy and former Shin Bet Director Ami Ayalon. Our nation's most prominent nuclear scientists and engineers described their support for the agreement in a recent letter to President Obama, saying it is ``technically sound,'' ``stringent'' and ``innovative.'' And in their open letter to Congress, Catholic Sisters from across our country called on us to ``risk on the side of peace'' by supporting the JCPOA. No definitive alternative has been put forth by those who oppose the agreement. Furthermore, should the United States abandon the agreement, our country would be viewed as feckless, a nation whose word cannot be trusted and our international partners would no longer commit to sanctions. For Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East, this, in my view, is an existential moment. By eliminating the possibility of Iran developing a nuclear weapon, Israel's security is enhanced and so is the stabilization of the region by removing the threat of a nuclear Iran. For all these reasons and more, I support this agreement and risk on the side of peace by voting for the JCPOA.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to my friend and distinguished constituent, Scott T. Carey, a former Mayor of Palo Alto and a resident of Portola Valley, California, who died at his home on August 11, 2015 after a brief illness at the age of 82. Scott Carey was born on March 11, 1933, to Paul T. Carey, an artist, and Stanleigh Carey, a pianist. He was raised in Berkeley, graduated from Berkeley High School and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California. He earned his law degree from Boalt Hall and served our country as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force from 1953 to 1958, rising to the rank of Captain. Scott Carey practiced law in San Francisco and Palo Alto before joining his uncle Pat Carey's real estate brokerage. Founded in 1935, Cornish & Carey was primarily a residential brokerage firm when Scott joined the company in 1968. He soon upgraded the company's commercial division and it became the brokerage of choice for many Silicon Valley technology companies. He served as Chairman of the firm's Board of Directors. Scott Carey was known for his honesty, dedication, integrity, wise counsel and his ability to think fast and explain complex deals in a personable, confident manner. He was an ardent and able golfer, and a public servant as a member of the Palo Alto City Council from 1975 to 1979, including a term as Mayor. He was instrumental in obtaining the Council's support for the $7.5 million acquisition of more than 500 acres of lower foothills property which later became the core of the Arastradero Open Space Preserve. He also served on various boards, including that of the Woodside Priory School and the Berkeley Center for Law, Business and the Economy. He oversaw the sale of Cornish and Carey to BCG Partners, an endeavor in which he was deeply involved. Scott Carey leaves his beloved wife Susan Carey, the great love of his life; his children Michael T. Carey, of San Mateo, Dennis Carey, of Hanoi, Jeff Beaty, of Concord; Cynthia Carey, of Napa Valley, Kimberly Corso, of Menlo Park and Christopher Corso, of Portland, Oregon; Lisa Lamb, of Atherton, and Mike E. Carey, of Santa Barbara; brother Peter Carey of Palo Alto. He also leaves his grandchildren Tyler Woods; Cole T. Carey; Zachary, William and Alexandra Lamb; Sophia Phillips; and Benjamin Carey as well as his nephew, Brendan Carey; and niece, Nadia Carey. I was privileged to have known Scott for over 35 years and call him my friend. He was a thoroughbred professional, a loyal friend and he was respected by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in honoring the life of Scott T. Carey, a man of many talents and accomplishments and a true patriot. As the full House extends our condolences to his family and friends, we are grateful for his life and his work which made our community and our country stronger and better.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Karen Ignagni for her more than two decades of leadership as President and CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) and to wish her every success in her new position as President and CEO of EmblemHealth. Karen Ignagni served with great distinction at AHIP. Her intellect, broad policy knowledge and experience helped shape some of the most consequential national health policies for our country, including the Affordable Care Act. Her ability to see the benefits the Act would bring to insurers and consumers was extraordinarily important and contributed to the successes now being realized by millions of Americans. Jay Gellert, the highly regarded President and CEO of Health Net praised Karen, saying that ``She was the face of the industry when it was attacked. Without compromising her beliefs, she handled all of that with integrity and dignity, and I think that was because from the start she was committed to the end point.'' He opined that after all she had done to frame the Affordable Care Act's regulatory infrastructure, she probably took on the challenges of leading EmblemHealth as a way to ``play it out on the ground.'' Karen Ignagni, a native of Providence, Rhode Island, is a graduate of Providence College and earned her MBA at Loyola College. Prior to her work at AHIP, she served as Director of the AFL-CIO's Department of Employee Benefits, and worked for the U.S. Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee, at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and in the office of Senator Claiborne Pell. She has written about health policy issues and has received many honors for her leadership, including the Second Century Award for Excellence in Health Care. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in paying tribute to Karen Ignagni and wishing her every success in her leadership of EmblemHealth. We are a stronger, better country because of Karen Ignagni and her distinguished work and I'm privileged to have worked with her and call her my friend.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I was not present during rollcall vote No. 483. I would like to reflect that on rollcall vote No. 483 I would have voted ``no.'' (By unanimous consent, Mr. Dent was allowed to speak out of order.) Washington Kastles Charity Classic