Anna Eshoo

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I was not present during roll call vote numbers 51, 52, and 53 on February 2, 2015, due to a flight cancellation. I would like to reflect how I would have voted: On roll call vote no. 51 I would have voted YES. On roll call vote no. 52 I would have voted YES. On roll call vote no. 53 I would have voted YES.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an extraordinary woman and cherished constituent, Constance Eisenstat, who died on December 23, 2014, at the age of 83. Born in New York City to Lee and Cecile (Meyer) Kend, Connie spent the first half of her life as a New Yorker, and then as a Californian in the Bay Area. Connie made the world better with all she did and was. A unique, tasteful, funny, smart, intuitive, wise and fully decent woman, she consistently made herself available to help those who needed her, whether it was wardrobe guidance, new shopping opportunities, or exclusives on upcoming sales! Her notable travel and fine dining tips, favorite recipes, reviews of movies, art, and theatre were offered free of charge, and everyone trusted Connie's judgment and good taste. But most importantly, Connie was truly at her best when coaching others through their illnesses, their difficult personal times or their life's challenges. Connie was a courageous woman. She inspired others through her inner strength, fighting off her own illnesses countless times, yet never allowing them to get her down. Inspired by a program established at Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York, Connie and a friend launched the Patient to Patient Program at Stanford Hospital. They and their group of carefully trained volunteers paid visits to patients who had undergone breast cancer surgeries. Introducing themselves as breast cancer survivors, they offered information and support services to hospital patients with gentleness and sensitivity. When the Community Breast Health Project (CBHP) was created in 1993, Connie once again offered her services to help launch this valued community non-profit organization. For many years she served as a committed volunteer and fundraiser, and together with a group of like-minded individuals, she sustained and strengthened this premier community organization (now Bay Area Cancer Connections) that supports people touched by breast and ovarian cancer with comprehensive, personalized services in an atmosphere of warmth and compassion. Connie was a devoted wife, mother, grand mom, friend, and community leader. Her loyalty, style, energy, creativity, humor, determination and bravery are all hallmarks of who she was and made her unforgettable. She was an entrepreneur before the word was popularized . . . the owner of a tennis shop, Connie's Racquet, and a food business, Ultomato. She also brought her enduring sense of beauty to the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University as a member of the Board. Connie leaves her beloved husband of 55 years, Albert (Pepsi), her children Melissa (Jonathan) and Michael (Susanne) and her beloved four grandsons, Mitch, Johnny, Ben and Tommy. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in honoring and celebrating the life of Connie Eisenstat. In the words of Vincent Van Gogh: ``Close friends are truly life's treasures. Sometimes they know us better than we know ourselves. With gentle honesty, they are there to guide and support us, to share our laughter and our tears. Their presence reminds us that we are never really alone''. This beloved and unique woman strengthened her family, her friends, her community and her country. May our tribute to her be a source of pride and comfort to the entire Eisenstat family.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, today the House will vote for the tenth time to bypass a process established by law and instead, move to approve an oil pipeline that will harm the climate, do nothing to enhance our energy security, and create 35 permanent jobs. In the process, the legislation before us disregards the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the more than 2.5 million Americans who submitted comments to the State Department on the Keystone XL pipeline proposal. Keystone XL is a proposed 2,000-mile pipeline to carry up to 830,000 barrels per day of tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada to the Gulf Coast. Because the pipeline crosses the U.S.-Canadian border, existing law requires that a Presidential Permit be obtained to ensure that the project is in the interest of the United States. TransCanada, the Canadian company planning to build the pipeline, was initially denied a Presidential Permit in early 2012. The company then split the project into two sections and reapplied for a Presidential Permit for the 1,200-mile section of pipeline from Alberta to Steele City, Nebraska. This section has undergone an environmental review process and the State Department is currently reviewing the public comments to determine if the project is in the national interest. This bill ends that review and deems the project immediately approved. As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I have participated in the hearings on this issue since 2011, and it is clear to me that Keystone XL is not in the nation's interest. It will provide an export route for one of the dirtiest fuels on earth, putting the U.S. at risk of a spill and unleashing billions of tons of future greenhouse gas emissions. Beyond the environmental impacts, TransCanada has acknowledged that this project will create very few permanent U.S. jobs and that most of the oil will be exported overseas rather than remaining in the U.S. market. In my view, this is a bad deal for the American people and should not be given a special legislative exemption in the form of this bill. Construction of Keystone XL is also incompatible with our long-term climate goals and would put millions of Americans at risk of a catastrophic oil spill. Tar sands oil produces up to 40 percent more carbon pollution than conventional oil on a life-cycle basis and is much harder to clean up in the event of a spill. In Michigan, a 2010 tar sands oil spill in the Kalamazoo River took over four years to clean up at a cost of over $1.2 billion. Despite claims from its backers, Keystone XL will not improve U.S. energy security or reduce our dependence on oil from the Middle East. A study commissioned by the Department of Energy found that U.S. oil imports from Canada will grow at ``almost identical'' rates with or without Keystone XL. The State Department's review of the Keystone XL proposal estimated that a majority of the oil that travels through the pipeline will be exported overseas. In fact, contrary to the company's claims in promotional materials, TransCanada has refused to guarantee that any of the oil will remain in the U.S. In 2011, I participated in an Energy and Commerce Committee hearing where TransCanada's President of Energy and Oil pipelines, Alex Pourbaix, acknowledged under questioning that his company was not willing to guarantee in law or in shipping contracts that oil from Keystone XL will remain in the U.S. market. Several attempts to insert language ensuring that a portion of the oil remains in the U.S. have been rejected by the House Republican leadership. Supporters of Keystone XL have widely touted the job-creation benefits of this pipeline, but in reality this project will provide less than three dozen permanent jobs. The projections in the State Department's environmental impact statement, made in consultation with TransCanada, reveal that up to 42,100 direct and indirect temporary jobs will be supported during construction of the pipeline. I do not diminish this factor. However, when construction is completed in less than two years, Keystone XL is expected to support only 35 permanent jobs. Rather than investing in renewable energy technologies and infrastructure updates that would benefit millions of Americans, the House has chosen as its first order of business in the 114th Congress to provide a special deal to a Canadian company, without any guarantee that a single drop of the oil will remain in the United States. For this reason and the others I've stated, I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation and any further attempts to short-circuit the Keystone XL review process.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Gerald ``Jerry'' Lee, who was born in San Francisco on August 15, 1952, and died on December 24, 2014, at the age of 62 in his home city. Jerry, the son of Fon Yook Lee and Sai Soo Lee, was raised in San Francisco and attended Washington Irving Elementary, Francisco Junior High, and Galileo High School, City College of San Francisco and San Francisco State University. Jerry and his wife Beverly Chin were married in San Francisco in 1975, and gave so generously of their time and considerable talents to their community. They devoted countless hours to causes including: the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade; Self-Help for the Elderly; Chinatown Community Development Center; Community Youth Center of San Francisco; Cameron House; Wu Yee Children's Services; United Way of the Bay Area; Have a Ball Foundation; Salvation Army; APA Family Services; Glide Memorial Church; the San Francisco Junior Giants; Big Brothers and Big Sisters; On Lok; Boys & Girls Club; Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation, and the Asian Police Officers Association. Jerry's commitment to his community included being an ardent supporter of the San Francisco Giants and the 49ers. Jerry worked at United Parcel Services for more than four decades, beginning as a loader and climbing the corporate ladder to the position of Community Affairs Manager. At UPS, he took on special assignments at the regional and corporate levels and was recognized for his work as the United Way Coordinator and Congressional Awareness Coordinator. As UPS's representative he formed close relationships with California's non-profit organizations, providing them with grants and sponsorships and coordinated teams of volunteers to support the needs of the community. Jerry was appointed by Mayor Art Agnos to form San Francisco's Department of Parking and Traffic. Jerry also served as Chair of the City's Taxi Committee and was an important part of the development of the industry's manual. Mayor Gavin Newsom appointed Jerry to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors and he was re-appointed to this position by Mayor Ed Lee. Jerry is survived by his beloved spouse Beverly; his children Kimberly, Corbett and Bennett, and his mother Sai Soo Lee. He was preceded in death by his father and he also leaves his sisters Aimee, Vickie, Marie and Patricia, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. I had the privilege of working with Jerry Lee on many efforts. I saw first-hand his great enthusiasm for collaboration, a deep sense of pride in all the employees at UPS and an unswerving commitment to his community rooted in patriotism, decency and integrity. He was a trusted friend and an extraordinary partner, and I join the many in our region in grieving his loss. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the extraordinary life and great accomplishments of a proud American, Jerry Lee. We are a better community and a stronger country because of him.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I wish to begin by saluting Congresswoman Barbara Lee for hosting this Special Order, as well as her three decades of advocating for the normalization of relations between the U.S. and Cuba; and to Congressman Sam Farr for devoting years of service to this issue, and working with so many individuals and organizations to bring down the walls of division between the two countries. On December 17, 2014, President Obama announced a major prisoner exchange with the Cuban government. Alan Gross, a USAID contractor who had been held captive for five years was finally reunited with his family, as were three Cuban intelligence agents who had been imprisoned in the U.S. since 1998. Rolando Sarraff Trujillo, a cryptographer in Cuba's Directorate of Intelligence who reportedly provided information to the FBI, was also freed in the prisoner exchange. This announcement was highly significant and it is historic as well. In a televised address that followed the exchange, the President announced a major shift in U.S. policy toward Cuba: the reestablishment of diplomatic relations that were severed in 1961, thus drawing a curtain on many of the provisions of the longest standing embargo in U.S. history. The President stated that while the embargo was rooted in the ``best intentions,'' it ultimately failed in its goal to incite change in the communist government and has only served to isolate and hurt the Cuban people. I continue to harbor deep concerns about the reported human rights abuses in Cuba and limitations of speech and political expression, but it is clear that our current policy has failed to end these practices. So just how will these policy changes positively affect the Cuban people and the United States? Remittances from the U.S. are a vital resource to millions of Cubans and to humanitarian projects in Cuba. Between $1.4 and $2 billion in remittances are transferred from the U.S. to Cuba each year, often from Cubans who immigrated to the U.S. to seek new opportunity. Cubans rely on this money to pay for food, monthly electricity bills, or for the daily expenses of life. And humanitarian projects receiving this aid provide food, clean water, essential infrastructure and education to Cubans. When the average monthly salary in Cuba is a mere $20, the significance of this transfer of money comes into full view. Limits on remittances have stifled real progress, and raising these limits from $500 to $2,000 per quarter will usher in a new wave of much needed aid to counter the Cuban government's infliction of serious harm to the well-being of its people. Despite harsh government regulations, Cuba does have a nascent burgeoning private sector economy. I saw this firsthand last year when I visited Cuba as part of a Congressional delegation. During the trip, I participated in a roundtable with a number of Cuban female entrepreneurs to hear their concerns and discuss what can be done to support their efforts to create new business. I believe this shift in U.S.-Cuba relations will act as a healthy seed for entrepreneurial growth in Cuba. From authorizing expanded commercial sales and exports, to facilitating an expansion of travel to Cuba from the U.S., we will do more to empower the Cuban people than we have in the over 50-year embargo. Today, Cuba imports approximately 80 percent of its food, a stunning statistic. American agriculture has long supported an opening of relations and now Cuba's economy will be bolstered and this in turn will bring enormous value to American farmers. Even more empowering is an emboldening tool of democratization, the Internet. As we've seen in countless other countries around the world, the Internet is an individual's megaphone. It is the place for discourse. For collaboration. For free speech. For democracy! By extending telecommunications and technology services to Cuba, the Cuban people will have access to a tremendous exchange of knowledge and ideas with unparalleled power to inspire change. These efforts by the U.S. are not exhaustive. Only our vigilance and continued assessment of our relations with Cuba will provoke lasting change for Cubans. But it is also imperative for Latin American countries to reinvigorate their ties with Cuba's civil and political leaders. Democratic Latin American countries, such as Mexico and Brazil, can send a strong signal of support to the Cuban Democratic movement by reinvigorating their relations with Cuba, just as the U.S. is doing. I have supported a change in U.S.-Cuba policy since I was elected to Congress in 1992, and I welcome and celebrate the decision of the President to make this a reality. It's very exciting to look forward to heralding a new era of opportunity and democratic values for Cuba, a pragmatic partnership with the U.S., support from other Latin American countries, and the abandonment of oppression of the Cuban people by the U.S. embargo, as well as the Cuban government itself.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, for the past 22 years, I've had the privilege of working alongside one of the greatest statesmen this institution has ever known--Congressman George Miller. Throughout his 40-year career, Congressman Miller's work has transformed the lives of children and families, hard working people and our environment. From our country's education system, to labor, to health policy and the preservation of our natural resources, Congressman Miller has left lasting and profoundly important imprints on our society. From the first day he stepped into the halls of Congress and ever since, he's been a true reformer for the American people. Congressman Miller was instrumental in passing the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which curbs pay discrimination against women. In 1975, he championed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, which for the first time provided children with special needs a free and appropriate public education. Congressman Miller paved the way to dramatically improve the quality of meals for children at schools with the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010, and spearheaded transformative legislation to save students billions of dollars in student loan costs while serving as Chairman of the Education and Labor Committee. In 1982, he passed the landmark Pay- Go Act to reduce the deficit, instill greater discipline in the budget process, and ensure that military and non-military spending is considered equally. Congressman Miller chaired the House Natural Resources Committee and delivered the California Desert Protection Act of 1994, which established Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave Desert National Preserve. He also unlocked longstanding and fiercely defended taxpayer subsidized domination of California's scarce water resources by agribusiness, quite literally saving our fisheries and water quality. His accomplishments are countless and far reaching, and his tenacious pursuit to serve his constituents and the American people resonates throughout each and every one of his victories, as well as his defeats. Nearly every weekend for 40 years, Congressman Miller has traveled home to his district in the East Bay of San Francisco from Washington, D.C. It's where he has drawn his strength, his inspiration, and his desire to keep fighting the good fight. George, you are my brother, my confidant, and I will forever keep in my heart the time we spent working together in Congress. I wish you, Cynthia, your sons and grandchildren every blessing, and know that your tireless spirit will forever be a part of this sacred institution.

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, Henry Waxman is one of the most prolific and successful legislators in modern congressional history. After 46 years of serving his constituents in Los Angeles County--my fellow Californian, a champion for health care, for the environment, and consumers--is retiring at the end of the 113th Congress. Since 2009 Congressman Waxman has served as Chairman and Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, a committee with broad jurisdictions that reach into the daily lives of millions of Americans. His legislative achievements are unparalleled-- The Infant Formula Act, to improve the quality and integrity of infant formula; The Orphan Drug Act, which gave pharmaceutical companies incentives to develop treatments for rare diseases they had previously ignored; The Hatch-Waxman Act to create the first ever pathway for generic drugs; The Clean Air Act to address the problems of urban smog, hazardous air pollution, acid rain, and the depletion of the ozone; The Ryan White Care Act, groundbreaking legislation to provide medical care for Americans living with HIV/AIDS; The State Children's Health Insurance Program to ensure all children had access to health insurance; The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act to restrict the marketing of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to children and give the FDA jurisdiction to regulate these products; and The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, arguably the most important and far-reaching legislation passed by Congress in a century, creating a framework for universal health coverage for the American people. Rep. Waxman has also authored laws that improved the quality of nursing homes and home health services and that set policy for childhood immunization programs, vaccine compensation, tobacco education programs, communicable disease research, community and migrant health centers, maternal and child health care, family planning centers, health maintenance organizations, and drug regulation. Rep. Waxman is a strong advocate for women's health, supporting family planning programs and the right of women to freedom of choice with respect to safe and legal abortions. From 1997-2009, Rep. Waxman served as either Chairman or Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, conducting investigations into a wide range of important topics from the high cost of prescription drugs to waste, fraud and abuse in government contracting. He also formed a Special Investigations Division that prepared hundreds of investigative reports on local and national topics for Members of Congress. Mr. Waxman's contributions to our country span 40 years in Congress and six years in the California State Assembly. He and his wife Janet have been married for 44 years, they have two children and five beautiful grandchildren, Ari, Maya, Noa, Eva, and Jacob. It's been a great honor to serve with Henry Waxman and I wish him and Janet my full wishes for every blessing.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the accomplished career of a distinguished Californian, Mr. Robert Merwin of San Mateo County, who is retiring at the end of 2014 from his position as Chief Executive Officer of Mills-Peninsula Health Services, a post he has held since January, 1996. A resident of San Carlos, California, Bob Merwin is a 1971 graduate of the United States International University, and earned his M.B.A. from UCLA in 1973. He began his career in hospital management in 1973 as Assistant Executive Director of the Long Beach Community Hospital. He progressed up the corporate ladder at Long Beach, joined Pacific Presbyterian Medical Center, then came to Mills-Peninsula in 1987 as Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer. Bob Merwin has served our community as a member of the San Mateo Rotary Club, the American College of Health Care Executives, as Chair of the West Bay Hospital Conference, and Chair of the Hospital Consortium of San Mateo County. He is a past director of the American Red Cross Bay Area and a member of the Finance Committee of the Health Plan of San Mateo. Mills-Peninsula has thrived under Bob Merwin's leadership. He has improved relations between physicians and management, contained costs while increasing productivity, and helped develop a strategic plan for the combined hospitals. Under his leadership a new 241 bed acute care facility, Mills-Peninsula Medical Center was constructed. It is a state-of-the-art, $640 million, 450,000 square foot facility that is a source of pride to our entire community. Bob Merwin is married to Jean Merwin and he is the father of Michael and Megan. He enjoys golf, tennis and photography. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in honoring Bob Merwin for his stellar career in hospital management and for his extraordinary contributions to our community and our country.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary American visionary, Mr. Larry Ellison, as he steps down from his position as CEO of Oracle, the world-renowned company he founded in Redwood City, California. Larry Ellison was born in the New York City borough of the Bronx in 1944, and from an early age showed a keen aptitude for math and science. He attended the University of Illinois where he was named Science Student of the Year and the University of Chicago. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Howard University in 2005. For more than 35 years Larry Ellison has built and guided Oracle to its current position as the world's largest database-software company and one of the biggest providers of business programs. Oracle has a market capitalization of $185 billion and annual revenues of $38 billion, numbers that attest to Ellison's technical brilliance, strategic genius and unsurpassed business acumen. Larry Ellison worked as a technician for Firemen's Fund, Wells Fargo Bank and as a programmer at Amdahl Corporation, where he was part of a team that built the first IBM-compatible mainframe system. In 1999, Ellison, together with his Amdahl colleagues Robert Miner and Ed Oates, founded Software Development Labs which became Oracle after building a database named Oracle for the Central Intelligence Agency. A Silicon Valley legend, Larry Ellison is a man of widely diverse interests. He has received many honors, including being inducted into the Academy of Achievement in 1997. He is number five on the Forbes list of world billionaires, and is a generous philanthropist who has given millions to many causes, particularly in the field of medicine. He has signed the Giving Pledge which is a commitment to donate most of his wealth to non-profit organizations. He is the father of two, film producers David and Megan. He's also a pilot and competitive sailor whose team won the America's Cup in 2010 and in 2013. President John F. Kennedy said, ``Americans by nature, are optimistic. They are experimental, inventors, and are builders who build best when called upon to build greatly.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in honoring Larry Ellison, an American icon, for his extraordinary vision and great contributions to American technology. He has enhanced the leadership of our nation around the world by ``building greatly.''

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, one word that will always be synonymous with Ralph Hall is `gentleman.' I met Congressman Hall when I was first elected to Congress in 1993 and was appointed to the Science, Space and Technology Committee where he served as Chairman at the time when he was a Democrat. As Chairman of the Committee, his bipartisan work there was marked by promotion of science, technology, engineering and math education; advancing American competitiveness through research and development of new technologies; and maintaining our country's preeminence in space. I've never known Congressman Hall as a person who rests. His work as a policymaker will endure, and he is a natural politician with a knack for coalescing conflicting viewpoints. Congressman Hall is also one of the kindest Members in Congress. His geniality helps make this institution a better place for the American people. And no matter who you are--astronaut, president, or next door neighbor--Congressman Hall is always one to put a generous hand forward. I wish Congressman Hall every blessing together with his three sons and five beautiful grandchildren. I'm grateful to know him, to have served with him, and to call him my friend.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, John Dingell is a legend in the Congress and a national treasure. As the Dean of the House of Representatives, Congressman Dingell will be retiring at the end of the 113th Congress, and his body of legislative achievements will continue to be experienced by every American for generations to come. From protecting the environment, to promoting civil and worker rights, Congressman Dingell's legislative hand shaped it. He famously introduced health care reform legislation in 1955 and in every Congress since then to provide affordable, accessible care for every American. The Civil Rights Act of 1964, the 1965 Medicare Act, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments, the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, and the 2011 FDA Food Safety Modernization Act were all championed by Congressman Dingell. His meritorious contributions to society span his time serving in Congress and in the U.S. Army, where at the age of 18 he had orders to take part in the first wave of the planned invasion of Japan in 1945. Congressman Dingell is the longest serving Member of the House, and he is one of two World War II veterans still serving in Congress. President Obama recently awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States. I recall so well the first time I walked into the Energy and Commerce Committee hearing room. It was 1995 and my eyes immediately went to an enormous picture of the Earth hanging on the wall. I asked Chairman Dingell about the picture and his response has inspired and guided my legislative work because he said the painting represented the jurisdictions of the Energy and Commerce Committee. The Committee has the broadest jurisdictions which reach into the daily lives of millions of Americans. Those jurisdictions include health care, commerce, trade, manufacturing, energy and the environment, technology, communications and consumer protection. It is a reminder for members of the Committee to serve our constituents by fighting for meaningful and lasting opportunity. And it is a reminder that our job at the Committee has the most potential to create lasting impact. Congressman Dingell's service and legislation is unmatched in the history of our country and it has been a great honor to serve with him. I wish him and Debbie my full wishes for every blessing.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the accomplished career of a distinguished Californian, Mr. Robert Merwin of San Mateo County, who is retiring at the end of 2014 from his position as Chief Executive Officer of Mills-Peninsula Health Services, a post he has held since January, 1996. A resident of San Carlos, California, Bob Merwin is a 1971 graduate of the United States International University, and earned his M.B.A. from UCLA in 1973. He began his career in hospital management in 1973 as Assistant Executive Director of the Long Beach Community Hospital. He progressed up the corporate ladder at Long Beach, joined Pacific Presbyterian Medical Center, then came to Mills-Peninsula in 1987 as Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer. Bob Merwin has served his community as a member of the San Mateo Rotary Club, the American College of Health Care Executives, and as Chair of the West Bay Hospital Conference, and Chair of the Hospital Consortium of San Mateo County. He is a past director of the American Red Cross Bay Area and a member of the Finance Committee of the Health Plan of San Mateo. Mills-Peninsula has thrived under Bob Merwin's leadership. He has improved relations between physicians and management, contained costs while increasing productivity and helped develop a strategic plan for the combined hospitals. Under his leadership a new 241 bed acute care facility, Mills-Peninsula Medical Center was constructed. It is a state-of-the-art, $640 million, 450,000 square foot facility that is a source of pride to our entire community. Bob Merwin is married to Jean Merwin and he is the father of Michael and Megan. He enjoys golf, tennis and photography. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in honoring Bob Merwin for his stellar career in hospital management and for his extraordinary contributions to our community and our country.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the accomplished career of a distinguished Californian, Mr. Robert Merwin of San Mateo County, who is retiring at the end of 2014 from his position as Chief Executive Officer of Mills-Peninsula Health Services, a post he has held since January, 1996. A resident of Menlo Park, California, Bob Merwin is a 1971 graduate of the United States International University, and earned his M.B.A. from UCLA in 1973. He began his career in hospital management in 1973 as Assistant Executive Director of the Long Beach Community Hospital. He progressed up the corporate ladder at Long Beach and other facilities, coming to Mills-Peninsula in 1987 as Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer. Bob Merwin serves his community as a member of the San Mateo Rotary Club, the American College of Health Care Executives, and as Chair of the West Bay Hospital Conference, San Mateo Section, and Chair of the Hospital Consortium of San Mateo County. He is a past director of the American Red Cross Bay Area and a member of the Finance Committee of the Health Plan of San Mateo. Mills-Peninsula has thrived under Bob Merwin's leadership. He has improved relations between physicians and management, contained costs while increasing productivity and helped develop a strategic plan for the combined hospitals. Under his leadership a new 241 bed acute care facility, Mills-Peninsula Medical Center was constructed. It is a state-of-the-art, $640 million, 450,000 square foot facility that is a source of pride to our entire community. Bob Merwin is married to the former Nancy Madigan and they have two children, Michael and Megan. He enjoys golf, tennis and photography. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in honoring Bob Merwin for his stellar career in hospital management and for his extraordinary contributions to our community and our country.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the extraordinary life and work of Martin Litton, a legendary and passionate environmentalist and wilderness preservationist who died on November 30, 2014, at his home in Portola Valley, California. Mr. Litton was born in Los Angeles on February 13, 1917, and was 97 years of age when he died of age-related causes. Martin Litton was introduced early to the joys of the wilderness. He attributed a 12-day trip on Mt. Whitney that he and a friend took as teens as the inspiration for his lifelong crusade to protect our environment. At age 18 he wrote a letter to the Los Angeles Times urging Californians to save Mono Lake. Martin Litton was best known for his fierce opposition to the destruction of the Colorado River by the construction of dams, often in association with the Sierra Club. He was one of the first several hundred people to float the river in 1955, and after fourteen years as the travel editor at Sunset Magazine he began running the river often, founding Grand Canyon Dories in 1970 and running commercial trips through the 1970s and 1980s, until he sold the business in 1988. He ran his last trip in 2004 at age 87, rowing his own wooden dory. Martin Litton was an author, activist, pilot, and a catalyst for change. He was close to major figures in the environmental movement, such as David Brower, Edward Abbey and others. Martin Litton gave generously of his time and considerable talents to the conservation movement as a Director of the Sierra Club from 1964 to 1973, as a member of the Executive Committee of the American Land Conservancy, as an Advisor to the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance and on the Honorary Board of Directors of the Glen Canyon Institute. Martin Litton leaves his wife, Esther, his children John, Kathleen and Helen, as well as five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in extending our most sincere condolences to Martin Litton's family, and in honoring his extraordinarily productive life. Martin Litton was a soaring figure, larger than life, with a magnificent voice, a powerful presence, an all- consuming passion for the wilderness, and a passion to preserve and protect the natural beauty of our nation.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Richard Goldstein on his induction into the Affordable Housing Hall of Fame. Affordable Housing Finance magazine created the Hall of Fame in 2006, honoring those who shape, develop and preserve affordable housing by advocacy, drafting policy and legislation, and building projects. Rick Goldstein has earned and richly deserves his place in the Hall of Fame. Rick earned his undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo and his Juris Doctor from Boston College School of Law and he is a partner in the law firm of Nixon Peabody LLP. He has worked tirelessly to preserve the low-income tax credit since its enactment in 1986, and is a national authority on the program. One of Rick's partners wrote, ``This is a significant tribute recognizing Rick's leadership and experience counseling syndicators, investors, developers and others on complex transactions and policy involving the low-income housing tax credit.'' Rick Goldstein's stellar legal career has been dedicated to preserving the low-income housing tax credit and advising clients on how the tax credit will impact their businesses. He is a trusted advisor to many Members of Congress who rely on him to assist in their legislative efforts on affordable housing. Rick is keenly aware of the need for more affordable housing in our nation and has said, ``Sometimes Congress gets the Tax Code right,'' referring to the Affordable Housing Credit. He attributes the bipartisan support of the program to the fact that the tax credit truly goes to those it purports to benefit, not investors or developers of affordable rental housing, but the actual tenants of these housing developments. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in saluting and congratulating Rick Goldstein as he receives this great honor. Thousands of families and individuals live in affordable, decent housing across our country today because of his work. Rick Goldstein has strengthened communities and our country through his extraordinary work and it is an honor to pay tribute to a great man, a prized professional and a valued friend.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5728, the STELA Reauthorization Act of 2014. Nearly four months ago, the House passed legislation to reauthorize the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010 (STELA). The language before the House today reflects a compromise reached with the leadership of the Senate Commerce Committee and paves the way for an extension of STELA prior to the expiration of the statute on December 31, 2014. Like the bill passed by voice vote in July, H.R. 5728 reauthorizes STELA for a period of five years, ensuring that approximately 1.5 million satellite subscribers can continue accessing broadcast television signals. Reflecting my belief that our video laws are outdated and in some cases are even being abused, H.R. 5728 requires the FCC to re-examine its `good faith' rules to ensure retransmission consent negotiations are conducted fairly and in a timely manner. To better understand how retransmission consent fees impact a consumer's monthly bill, H.R. 5728 requires the FCC to include aggregate data as part of its annual report on cable rates. This provision will bring about much needed transparency because retransmission consent fees are estimated to rise from $4.3 billion this year to an estimated whopping $5.1 billion in 2015. H.R. 5728 also includes a provision I strongly supported during committee debate to ensure broadcasters cannot team up against pay-TV providers for leverage during retransmission consent negotiations. This is an important step toward rebalancing the playing field and ultimately protecting consumers from unacceptable blackouts and increased rates. Finally, H.R. 5728 improves on language included in the bill adopted in July by delaying repeal of the cable set-top box `integration ban' by one year and establishing a stakeholder working group tasked with developing a successor solution. Importantly, this provision does not negate a cable operator's obligation to promote the competitive availability of set-top boxes under Section 629 of the Communications Act. While I continue to believe repeal of the ban should be conditioned on an industry-wide adoption of a successor to the CableCARD, this is a compromise I support. With an eye to the future, we can fulfill a goal I set out to achieve nearly 20 years ago and that is to give consumers an alternative to having to rent a set-top box from their local cable company every month. For all these reasons, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5728.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and courage of my distinguished constituent, Air Force Lieutenant Hank Sciaroni, a recipient of the Bronze Star for bravery during World War II. In 1944, Lt. Sciaroni had to crash-land his B-24 Liberator bomber on an enemy-held beach in Italy. Were it not for the bravery of three Italian fishermen, he and his three Sergeants, Leonard Meton, Olin Houghton and Al Doerwald, would have been captured. Mr. Giovanni Silviero, Mr. Francesco Montevani and his son, Sergio Montevani, endangered their own lives to save our servicemen who they also housed and fed for nearly two weeks. They put themselves at even greater risk in procuring a small boat which the servicemen used to make their escape. On November 1, 1944, Lt. Sciaroni and his men successfully escaped from enemy territory, setting sail for the Ally-controlled port of Cesenatico, where they would finally receive medical attention. Although he has often thought of the three Italian fishermen, Mr. Sciaroni has not seen the men to whom he and his three sergeants owe their lives since. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring Lieutenant Hank Sciaroni who represents the great courage of American soldiers during World War II; his men, Sergeants Meton, Houghton and Doerwald; and equally important, the brave Italians who selflessly protected our countrymen from certain capture by enemy forces, Giovanni Silviero, Francesco Montevani and Sergio Montevani. I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in expressing our deepest gratitude for their remarkable service to our great nation.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of a precious friend and an extraordinarily accomplished and loving woman, Kathryn Caranlik Simon, who died on September 17, 2014, at the age of 62. A native of San Francisco and raised in South San Francisco, Kathy owned her own public affairs consulting business through which she worked as a community relations strategist, building and winning public support and approval of several high-profile projects. She played an instrumental role in several prominent San Francisco Peninsula development projects, including the Bay Meadows residential and retail complex in San Mateo, the IKEA store in East Palo Alto and the substantial renovation of Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City. A graduate of Skyline College in San Bruno and San Jose State University, where she obtained a Bachelor's degree in public relations, Kathy Simon began her career at Ampex in Redwood City, worked at Shaklee Corp. in Emeryville, and for local public relations agencies before launching her own public affairs consulting business, Simon Communications. Through her firm she partnered with other leading consultants specializing in strategic communications with residents to win support and approval for many of the Peninsula's high-profile, and often controversial, projects. She also was a key campaign advisor and communications strategist for local elected officials. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 1991, Kathy was among the organizers of the Community Breast Health Project, a Palo Alto-based organization dedicated to providing information, treatment options and mammograms to breast cancer patients. The group recently expanded its charter to other cancers and was recently renamed Bay Area Cancer Connections. Active in the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Cross in Belmont, Ms. Simon was a member of the Board of Directors of Philoptochos, a women's organization that engages in community-based charitable works. A resident of Redwood City for more than three decades, Ms. Simon is survived by her lifelong love, her husband, Mark, an executive with a local transit agency; her sons, David of New York City and Alex of Redwood City; her daughter-in-law, Jeanette O'Donoghue Simon; two granddaughters, Dylan Rose Simon and Sloane Kathryn Simon; two sisters, Elaine Adams of Santa Cruz and Beverly Heppler of Concord; and many nieces and nephews. Kathy Simon's beloved husband Mark perfectly captured the essence of Kathy in his description of her as a woman of extraordinary courage, with an unstinting heart of gold and a fierce and proud love for her family and friends. I consider myself deeply privileged to have known Kathy and to have called her my friend. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in extending our most sincere condolences to the Simon family. Kathy Simon was a special person who has been taken from us too soon, but her life was a gift to each person who had the privilege to know her. Our community and our country were blessed and strengthened by her time with us.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of an extraordinary American, Richard Ryland Kelley, who was born on October 2, 1925, in Palo Alto, California, and died on August 30, 2014. He was an energetic, creative, generous and poetic man, and was a central figure in the development of Silicon Valley. Ryland Kelley was a graduate of Stanford University and served his country in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He joined his father in forming a real estate firm that became known as Hare, Brewer and Kelley (HBK). The firm developed many San Francisco Peninsula communities, including Ladera, Lindenwood, Atherton Heights and Hidden Valley in Woodside. HBK also built the Palo Alto Office Center, Mayfield Mall, Webster House, a retirement community in Palo Alto, and the Pajaro Dunes resort in Watsonville. Ryland Kelley was a writer and a poet, who at the time of his death was planning to produce six one-act plays. He wrote seven plays and published three books of poetry. He was deeply involved in athletics since his days on the Stanford football and basketball teams, and tasted politics while helping Paul N. ``Pete'' McCloskey in his successful campaign against Shirley Temple Black for an open seat in Congress. He was a true renaissance man. Realizing that he was near death, he held a poetry reading for his closest friends at his son's home in June. Ryland Kelley leaves his devoted wife of 65 years and my precious friend, Shirley Sneath Kelley; his son Rich and his wife Gina of Woodside; his son Tom of San Francisco; and his son Bruce and his wife Susan, of West Hartford, Connecticut; and four grandchildren. I had the privilege of knowing Ry for over three decades. His friendship, sage advice and counsel, and keen observations enriched my life immeasurably. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in expressing our deepest condolences to Ryland Kelley's family and to all those who knew, respected and loved him. I consider it a great blessing to have called him my friend, and his countless contributions to our community are eloquent statements about this uniquely gifted and giving man. Our country and our community were blessed by his life, and we are bettered having known him.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of an extraordinary American artist and muralist, Greg Brown, who died in Palo Alto, California, on August 28, 2014, at the age of 62, after a brief bout with cancer. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he moved to Palo Alto with his family at the age of two and remained in the community for the rest of his life. Greg Brown began his painting career as a second-grade student when he painted a mural of a pilgrim as part of an assignment on Christopher Columbus. A graduate of Palo Alto High School, he took few formal art classes, but an apprenticeship with the Italian artist Roberto Lupetti helped him gradually begin to grow as an artist. Greg Brown was Palo Alto's artist in residence in 1975, and created art for Palo Alto's centennial in 1994. His murals are a significant part of Palo Alto's public art collection and the nine trompe l'oeil vignettes adorning the walls of city buildings are treasures for all to enjoy. He also produced drawings and paintings and worked for private clients in many places. Greg Brown was a learner, a reader, and a keen observer of people. Mr. Brown leaves his wife, Julie, of Palo Alto, his daughter Whitney of Palo Alto, and his son Justin of Redwood City. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in expressing our deepest condolences to Greg Brown's entire family and to all those who knew and loved him. His legacy lives on in the lively, whimsical art he created and shared with countless appreciative people, and our community and our country have been enriched and blessed by his life.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the scientists, engineers and staff of the NASA Ames Research Center for their legacy of contributions to our nation. For three quarters of a century NASA Ames has been a center of research, innovation, creativity and discovery. NASA Ames was established on December 20, 1939, in Sunnyvale and Mountain View, California, and is now part of the 18th Congressional District of California which I'm privileged to represent. Aeronautical researchers at NASA Ames constructed the world's greatest series of wind tunnels, improved the aircraft that led America to victory in World War II, and helped design supersonic jet aircraft. Spacecraft engineers at NASA Ames played a major role in the exploration of space and continue to study human-machine interaction, fundamental space biology and biotechnology. Information technologists at NASA Ames opened the fields of supercomputing, helped lay the foundations of the commercial internet and network security, and serve as a conduit for the sharing of ideas between government and the firms of Silicon Valley. The planetary scientists of NASA Ames have inspired a sense of awe at the vastness, beauty and complexity of the universe through robotic missions to explore our solar system. The earth scientists of NASA Ames helped bring better understanding to the environmental dynamics of our planet, and collaborated with scientists to develop new tools to fight fires, address the challenges of climate change, and make us better stewards of our ecosystems. The educators of NASA Ames have inspired successive generations of young people to engage in careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The government entrepreneurs of NASA Ames have done better science for less expense. NASA Ames builds, manages, and operates some of the most spectacular spacecraft that explore our solar system, as well as other solar systems, and it is a powerful and reliable source of employment and innovation with a highly skilled and motivated workforce. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in saluting the extraordinary contributions made by NASA Ames Research Center over the past 75 years to the history, economy, ecology and knowledge of our nation.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3670, the Anti-Spoofing Act and H.R. 5161, the E-LABEL Act. H.R. 3670 updates the Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009 to combat against fraudulent phone calls and text messages received by millions of Americans, including seniors, veterans and the disabled. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), ``caller ID spoofing'' is defined as the deliberate falsification of caller ID information, including a telephone number and/or name for the purpose of disguising the identity of the calling party. Just last month, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department reported a series of spoofing incidents in which San Diegans received calls purported to be from the Sheriff's office, indicating a warrant for their arrest. With similar reports of fraudulent behavior around the country, this bipartisan, pro-consumer bill will better protect Americans from becoming victims of scammers. I commend Representative Meng for her leadership and I urge the House to pass this commonsense bill. I also urge House colleagues to support H.R. 5161, a bipartisan bill which I introduced with Representatives Latta, Welch and Blackburn in July. Following on the E-Labeling guidance issued by the FCC this summer, H.R. 5161 would promote electronic labeling for FCC certified devices such as phones, computers, smart watches and other consumer electronics products. As the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) described in a July op-ed, ``etching 17 characters into a phone might not seem like a Herculean feat, but as wireless devices have proliferated and shrunk in size, many manufacturers have been forced to buy increasingly expensive equipment and invest more design time into placing the label.'' Electronic labeling thus provides manufacturers with a more practical solution to existing FCC labeling requirements and does so while lowering device costs. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for H.R. 3670 and H.R. 5161.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the unprecedented Republican plan to sue the President of the United States. At a time when Congress should be focusing on strengthening the middle class and expanding opportunities for all Americans, our Republican colleagues in the House accuse the President of unconstitutionally abusing his executive power by delaying the requirement in the Affordable Care Act that larger companies provide health insurance to their employees. At a time when student debt exceeds credit card debt in our country, when mothers are the primary breadwinner yet receive unequal pay, and when job creation is stagnating, our Republican colleagues have proposed a baseless, shameful lawsuit that further erodes the public's confidence in the United States Congress and a functioning American democracy. The lawsuit is fundamentally flawed in several ways: First, Republicans argue that the President acted outside of his authority with respect to implementing the ACA. Claims that the President is ignoring the law are unmerited. Records show that the President is using the same flexibility that presidents of both parties have long utilized to phase in new programs and policies and ensure that statutes are implemented in workable, sensible ways, minimizing disruption to individuals, families and businesses. Everything we do in Congress bears the mark of humanity. No law is perfect and occasionally, presidents must make reasonable, short-term accommodations to reality. Second, the courts are not the appropriate place to work out political disagreements between one half of one House of Congress and the Administration. The Affordable Care Act was passed by the House and the Senate and signed into law by the President. I understand that many House Republicans hate the law; they've made that abundantly clear in the more than 50 times they have voted to repeal it. After unsuccessfully attempting to repeal the law through regular order, House Republicans, grasping at straws, have opted to give away the mighty powers of the legislative branch to the judicial branch. If Congress starts relying on judges to check executive power, instead of the tools the Constitution grants us, this body will transfer enormous authority to the judicial branch. And to add insult to injury, the entire cost of this political misadventure will be paid for by the taxpayers. Repeated attempts to maintain regular order regarding cost transparency have been rebuffed. Ranking Member Slaughter of the Rules Committee sent a letter to Chairman Sessions, asking for a cost estimate of the lawsuit. No useful information has been provided. Ranking Member Brady of the House Administration Committee sent a letter to Speaker Boehner asking for regular order and transparency with the use of taxpayer money. No useful information has been provided. Amendment after amendment was offered by the Minority Members of the Rules Committee to provide transparency to the expenditures which would come out of legislative branch funds. All were voted down on party lines. This lawsuit is further proof of House Republicans' contempt and disregard for the priorities of the American people--an effort to pander to the most extreme, rightwing voters at taxpayer expense and our nation's well-being.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to bring up the Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act, H.R. 4582, to strengthen the middle class, instead of this partisan lawsuit attacking the President.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I was not present during rollcall vote numbers 433, 434, 435, and 436 on July 22, 2014, and rollcall vote numbers 437, 438, 439, 440, and 441 on July 23, 2014. I would like to submit how I would have voted: On rollcall vote No. 433 I would have voted ``yes.'' On rollcall vote No. 434 I would have voted ``yes.'' On rollcall vote No. 435 I would have voted ``yes.'' On rollcall vote No. 436 I would have voted ``yes.'' On rollcall vote No. 437 I would have voted ``no.'' On rollcall vote No. 438 I would have voted ``no.'' On rollcall vote No. 439 I would have voted ``yes.'' On rollcall vote No. 440 I would have voted ``yes.'' On rollcall vote No. 441 I would have voted ``yes.''