Anna Eshoo

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4572, the STELA Reauthorization Act of 2014. Seventeen months ago, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology embarked on a process to reauthorize the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010 (STELA), a law ensuring that approximately 1.5 million satellite subscribers can continue accessing broadcast television signals. By reauthorizing STELA for a period of five years, H.R. 4572 ensures that these mostly rural households do not lose access to broadcast programming when the statute expires on December 31, 2014. H.R. 4572 also offers several meaningful reforms to the video marketplace. First, the legislation ensures broadcasters cannot team up against pay-TV providers for leverage during retransmission consent negotiations. As retrans revenue is projected to rise to an estimated $7.6 billion by 2019, this provision is an important step toward rebalancing the playing field and ultimately protecting consumers from unacceptable blackouts and increased rates. Second, the bill eliminates a provision dating back to the 1992 Cable Act which has prevented a cable operator from dropping a broadcast signal during a Nielsen ratings ``sweeps week.'' With no such prohibition for a broadcaster that pulls their signal during a retrans dispute, H.R. 4572 creates regulatory parity and ensures a more level playing field for cable operators and broadcasters. Finally, while I support provisions intended to modernize the video marketplace, I continue to have deep concerns about repealing the cable set-top box integration ban prior to the industry-wide adoption of a successor to the CableCARD. 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 renting a set-top box from their local cable company each month. I thank Chairman Upton and Chairman Walden for their leadership in bringing H.R. 4572 to the House floor and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I thank the distinguished ranking member of the Judiciary Committee and my friend for yielding this time to me. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support today of this legislation, the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act. This is a bill that has been stated before that will permanently eliminate any barriers created by the taxation of Internet access. The current tax moratorium is going to expire shortly on November 1, which would then open the doors to taxation on Internet access. I think it is very important to make this very clear. This really protects consumers because the taxation would fall to them and their access to the Internet. This issue should not be confused with the issue of sales taxes collected by jurisdictions and the discrepancies between Main Street and what is purchased on the Internet. That is not what this issue is about. This is clearly, I think, a consumer issue. Now, whether for communication, commerce, business, education, research, the Internet is an integral part of the everyday lives of the American people and around the world as well, so we need to encourage its usage. We need to protect that usage, and I think we need to do everything we can to ensure that the access to the Internet is universal. This legislation has widespread support in the House. It has been my pleasure to work with Chairman Goodlatte as the Democratic lead on this effort. It has 228 bipartisan cosponsors in the House--I think that is the most eloquent statement about it--and there are 51 bipartisan cosponsors in the Senate. It has strong support of the communications, Internet, and e-commerce communities. I think this is an affordability issue. It is a consumer issue. It is sensible. It is bipartisan, and I believe that it deserves the full support of the House.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life and work of an extraordinary man, the Honorable Ira Bruce Ruskin. Ira was born in New York City on November 12, 1943, and passed away after a long struggle with brain cancer on July 3, 2014. Ira Ruskin was drawn to progressive issues at the University of California, Berkeley, where he became involved in the Free Speech Movement. This began his lifelong advocacy for civil rights, women's rights and the environment. After graduating from Berkeley, he earned a degree in communications from Stanford University. He was a marketing and public relations consultant for two decades until he began his political career in 1995, serving on the Redwood City Council and as the Mayor from 1991 to 2001. In 2004, he was elected to the State Assembly, a position he held with dignity and distinction until 2010, when his illness prevented him from entering the race for the State Senate. Ira Ruskin gave generously of his time and considerable talents to others. He helped organize and served as Chair of the Committee for Regional Water Reliability, and was Chair of the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency. He also served our community as a Director of the San Mateo County Transportation Authority and as an Advisor to the Redwood City Education Foundation, the San Mateo County Transportation Authority, the San Mateo County Joint Powers Authority, and the San Mateo County Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Advisory Board. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in extending our condolences to Ira's beloved wife, Cheryl, to his entire family and to his many friends. It is fitting for us to honor the life of Ira Ruskin who was kind and compassionate and who will be greatly missed by all who had the good fortune to know him. He was a patriot who served his community and his country with a deep sense of dedication and integrity and his values and his life of service to others have bettered us and made our union stronger. How blessed and privileged I am to have known Ira, served our mutual constituents together, and called him my friend.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3899, the Voting Rights Amendment Act, and urge the full House to vote on this legislation without delay. Voting is one of our most fundamental rights as Americans, and any attempts to limit this right on a discriminatory basis must be struck down. The constitutional right to vote existed for nearly a century, but millions of Americans were still routinely denied the right to vote based on the color of their skin. In 1965, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act and our country made incredible strides to eliminate voter suppression and discrimination. Discrimination at the polls is still a fact of life in many parts of our country. Congress recognized this when it passed the most recent reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act in 2006 by a unanimous vote in the Senate and a 390-33 margin in the House. Despite this overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress and a voluminous record detailing the ongoing need for this legislation, one year ago this week, the Supreme Court struck down the heart of the Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v. Holder. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wisely stated in her dissent of the Court's decision that to strike down the Voting Rights Act ``when it has worked and is continuing to work to stop discriminatory changes [to election laws] is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you're not getting wet.'' With efforts across the country to restrict the ability of individuals to register and vote, it's clear that we still need the ``umbrella'' protection that the Voting Rights Act has provided for nearly 50 years. The Voting Rights Amendment Act is a bipartisan measure that will restore the critical voting protections that were struck down by the Supreme Court in Shelby. This bill will ensure that states and localities that have a recent history of voting rights violations will be subject to the same strong oversight that has been so successful since 1965. On the day he signed the Voting Rights Act, President Lyndon Johnson stated: ``Today is a triumph for freedom as huge as any victory that has ever been won on any battlefield.'' Congress has a similar opportunity to ensure that the all-important protections of the Voting Rights Act remain in place. Let's join together and ensure that this ``triumph for freedom'' is not lost forever.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, efforts to reform our immigration system in the House have been blocked. It's been a year since our counterparts in the Senate passed bipartisan, comprehensive legislation, but the House Republican leadership has rejected the Senate bill without any attempt to shape a House response. Meanwhile, 11 million undocumented immigrants who pay taxes and defend our country continue to be deported; potentially 135,000 immigrants a year may be wrongfully detained and exploited according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement contracts with detention centers; and countless others frequently endure harassment and abuse in the workplace because they are not legally recognized. When did we veer so dangerously far off course? America has always been a nation of immigrants. From the first settlers, to the Great Wave, to the fight for legalization today, we're all either immigrants ourselves or direct descendants of them. In fact, twenty-six percent of residents in my congressional district were born in a foreign country, compared to 13 percent nationwide. As a first-generation American, I know the human side of this issue. My father traveled thousands of miles to this land, huddled by his mother's side, fleeing the religious persecution of Christians. He studied, learned, worked and excelled. He married, loved and raised his three children. He flew the American flag in front of his home every day, sang the praises of our country, and said prayers of thanksgiving daily for the blessings of America. The opportunity my family was given in America is always with me, and I'm committed to seeing that everyone has a share in that same opportunity. As a policymaker, I recognize that comprehensive immigration reform will also provide immense economic benefits to our country. It's estimated that the Senate-passed comprehensive immigration reform bill could reduce the deficit by more than $800 billion in the next 20 years, according to a nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office analysis. It's also estimated that wages would ultimately rise and our GDP would increase by over three percent in the next decade. In my congressional district, we would stand to gain over 17,000 jobs by 2023, according to an American Action Network analysis. We're already making progress. The Obama Administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is allowing hundreds of thousands of young undocumented immigrants who were brought by their parents to the United States as small children, to gain temporary legal status, including work authorization and protection from deportation. This is the only country these young people know and to which they have pledged their allegiance. They deserve to be recognized. The economic case is clear. Human lives are at stake. The founding principles of our country are on trial. Now is the time to act on comprehensive reform.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Edward J. Nevin, Jr., on the great occasion of his 100th birthday. Ed Nevin was born on August 26, 1914, at 15th and Harrison in the South of Market District of San Francisco. He graduated from Sacred Heart High School in his beloved City of Saint Francis, and went on to graduate from St. Mary's College in Moraga. A passion for civic duty and a commitment to his community led Ed to a 34-year career in the San Francisco Police Department, where he served with distinction in several important positions. He was the Chief of the Chinatown Detail, Director of Special Services (Vice Squad), Commander of the San Francisco Housing Authority Police, and Chief of San Francisco International Airport Police. While Ed takes enormous pride in protecting the people of San Francisco, he has always considered his greatest accomplishment to be his family. He was married to Mazie McDermott Nevin for 70 years until her passing in 2009. Together they had seven children: Virginia, Edward III, Michael, Katherine, James, Margaret Mary, and Eileen; 22 grandchildren and 45 great grandchildren. Ed and Mazie were deeply rooted in their Catholic faith, a guiding light that called them into selfless service to their community. They were longtime leaders in support of Catholic married couples and services for youth, and Ed was a recipient of the Special Recognition Award from the National Catholic Welfare Conference. Lifelong residents of the Bay Area, Ed and Mazie lived in San Francisco, Glen Ellen, San Ramon, and at The Magnolia in Millbrae. On August 26, 2014, Ed's family and friends will honor him on the blessed occasion of his 100th birthday with a celebration at the Irish Cultural Center in San Francisco. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in honoring Edward J. Nevin on his 100th birthday. He is a faith-filled family man who is revered by his colleagues, admired by the people he served, and beloved by his family. I am privileged to have known the Nevin family for many years and shared a beautiful friendship with their late son, Mike, a devoted and beloved public servant, and their daughter Margie and her husband, Patrick Johnston. Ed Nevin stands as a paragon of integrity and decency. He has strengthened his community and his country throughout a life filled with faith and raised an extraordinary family that continues to live the Nevin values. Our nation has been immensely bettered by Ed Nevin in countless ways over an entire American century, and we pay tribute to this great and good man who exemplifies the very best of America.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to aviation pioneer Ernest H. Buehl Sr. Ernest Buehl was born in Germany in 1897. He learned to fly in 1914--just 11 years after the Wright Brothers' first flight. Buehl's career began at BMW where he quickly became one of their leading technicians and in 1920, he was sent to the United States to train American technicians to work with the BMW engines he had help design in Germany. That same year, Buehl flew on the first transcontinental airmail flight from New York to Oakland, California. Buehl made frequent stops along the way to consult with local officials about the need for airports suitable to land larger aircraft. Eddie Rickenbacker, a World War I ace was a passenger on the transcontinental flight. Throughout the 1920s, Buehl took aircraft to areas just below the Arctic Circle in Canada, and in 1922 he worked with Roald Amundsen to prepare aircraft to fly over the North Pole. Buehl moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1923 to work for a company pioneering the use of aerial photography. This technology made it possible to create highly qualified topographic maps. Buehl and his partner, a black aviator named E.C. Malick, started the Flying Dutchman Air Service and in 1923, Buehl earned his first pilot's license, signed by Orville Wright himself. After becoming a citizen of the United States in 1928, Buehl went on to open three airports in the Philadelphia area where he trained pilots and promoted civilian aviation. During World War II, Buehl served as a Flight Commander for the flight training program at Franklin & Marshall College, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It is estimated that he trained 1,400 cadets. Buehl would also routinely serve as the personal pilot for General deGaulle on his visits to the United States raising funds for the French Resistance. Buehl has been recognized in the Congressional Record before. On April 23, 1996, the Honorable Ronald V. Dellums mentioned him in connection with the training of ``Chief'' C. Alfred Anderson, who organized the famous African-American Tuskegee Airmen who fought in World War II. In 1930, after Alfred Anderson had repeadtly been denied a pilot's license because he was black, Buehl accepted him as a student and advocated on his behalf. Buehl forcefully insisted that he be allowed to take the pilot's license test, even when a Federal examiner refused to let Anderson apply. Tuskegee Airmen historians and members of the Anderson family say that without Buehl's willingness to work with Anderson and to stick up for him, there would have been no Tuskegee Airmen. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in paying tribute to Ernest H. Buehl, Sr. for his lasting contributions to aviation and our nation by supporting his nomination to the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise with my colleagues, Congresswoman Karen Bass, Congressman Xavier Becerra, Congressman Ami Bera, Congresswoman Julia Brownley, Congresswoman Lois Capps, Congressman Tony Caardenas, Congresswoman Judy Chu, Congressman Jim Costa, Congresswoman Susan Davis, Congressman Sam Farr, Congressman John Garamendi, Congresswoman Janice Hahn, Congressman Jared Huffman, Congressman Mike Honda, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, Congressman Jerry McNerney, Congresswoman Linda Saanchez, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Congressman Alan Lowenthal, Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod, Congressman George Miller, Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Scott Peters, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, Congressman Raul Ruiz, Congressman Adam Schiff, Congressman Brad Sherman, Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Congressman Eric Swalwell, Congressman Mark Takano, Congressman Mike Thompson, Congressman Juan Vargas, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and Congressman Henry Waxman to honor the life of our friend who distinguished himself for 38 years in public service, the Honorable John Vasconcellos, who died on May 24, 2014, at his home in Santa Clara, California. John was born on May 11, 1932, in San Jose, California, to a Portuguese father and German mother. He graduated from Bellarmine College Preparatory High School with top honors, and attended Santa Clara University, graduating magna cum laude. After two years of service to his country in the Army, he graduated again at the top of his class from Santa Clara University's Law School. He practiced law before joining Governor Pat Brown's staff, and was soon recruited by his many friends and admirers to run for a seat in the California State Assembly in 1966. This began almost forty years of public service. John was a legislator's legislator. He had a brilliant intellect and a compassionate heart. He became the Chairman of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, one of the most powerful assignments in the California Legislature. He proposed the State Task Force to Promote Self-Esteem in October 1986, and in 1989, Speaker Willie Brown appointed him to Chair the Select Assembly Committee on Ethics. He was elected to the California State Senate in 1996, representing the heart of Silicon Valley, and served as Chairman of the Public Safety, Education, and Economic Development Committees. John Vasconcellos' 38 year tenure in the California Legislature was reflective of the innovative Silicon Valley District he represented. He was a disruptor and a pioneering public servant who was ahead of his time. His legislative work is widely recognized for its groundbreaking innovations in public safety, state budgets, ethics, health and human services, as well as in education. He wrote first-of-its-kind legislation addressing AIDS research, medical marijuana, and family health. He wrote legislation combating toxic chemicals in our atmosphere; he paved the way for midwives to practice; and he promoted child care at all public colleges. He saw the need before others to modernize our education system and make it affordable for all. He involved young people in the political process, launching programs like shadowing legislators in the State Capitol. John was an avid subscriber to the human-potential movement therapies to deal with the rage, tension and fear that continued to grow in our society. We called John our friend, and we were very proud to do so, but he was also a brother and a mentor to many of us and we will miss him always. Mr. Speaker, we ask the entire House of Representatives to join us in honoring Senator John Vasconcellos, a brilliant visionary with a giant heart who served his constituents, his state and his country with integrity and respect for building the politics of trust. We extend our condolences to his brother Jim Vasconcellos, his sister Margaret Brindle, his niece Beth Brindle, his Hawaiian family, including his chosen son Mitch Saunders, his daughter-in-law Cindy and his two beloved grandchildren Megan and Briana, as well as his devoted staff, his large circle of extended friends and family in California, Hawaii and around the world.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Andrew Joon-hao Tan, a student at La Entrada Middle School in Menlo Park, California, for his First Place Award in the 2013 Making Democracy Work Student Essay Contest held by the United States Capitol Historical Society. His extraordinary essay, entitled Democracy: Cohesion Between People and Government, follows. ``What political power could ever carry on the vast multitude of lesser undertakings which the American citizens perform every day, with the assistance of the principle of association,'' wrote French philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville when he visited the United States to observe American government. Tocqueville evaluates the American governance and decides that for democracy to be effective in America, citizens and organizations must actively participate in the government. After the American Revolution, representatives from each state met together to write the Constitution, an American standard for how democracy would function. Recently, however, the government has been less productive than in the past. Some have begun to question if democracy can remain an effective form of government in the current era. Democracy has the potential to be a flourishing style of government, but is predicated on the protection of individuals' rights and liberties, people's access to education and information, and actively participating citizens, all of which, they claim, are resting on shaky grounds. First and foremost, individual liberties must be guaranteed to everyone in a democracy. This provides protection to minority groups whose rights may otherwise be construed upon. Civil liberties can be encroached upon during times of national crises. A recent example of this is the Patriot Act, which was enacted after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Even though reining in civil liberties seemed appropriate for national security reasons in the immediate aftermath, there have been unintended consequences whereby our basic civil rights have been infringed. The debate over the role of the National Security Agency is currently being adjudicated in federal courts because many people feel that their fourth amendment rights are being violated. The expansion and retraction of our rights must continually be examined, and the government must provide enforcement of these rights to all citizens to create a bond of trust between the people and the government. Secondly, education should be available to all citizens, policies must be transparent, information should be widely accessible, and diverse points of views should be encouraged. When citizens in a democracy are educated, democracy functions much more effectively. Across countries, education and democracy are highly correlated. In other words, those who receive poor education are less likely to be politically active. Also, less educated people are more vulnerable to propaganda and false information, leaving them susceptible to vote based on the influence of others. Citizens also deserve access to uncensored information. In regimes where information is tightly controlled, citizens are restricted from developing their own opinions and this limits their capacity to fully engage in the political process. It is the government's responsibility to provide basic education and ensure freedom of the press so that citizens are engaged and empowered to play a part in a successful democracy. Finally, citizens must fulfill their civic duties in a democracy. These include voting and jury duty but can also be as simple as staying updated on current issues and obeying the law. Unfortunately, many of these simple duties are commonly overlooked. Even in the last presidential election in 2012, where there was a record voter turnout only about 60% of registered voters voted. Thus, the voice of around 40% of people was not heard in the ballot. Similarly, fulfilling civic responsibilities is necessary for democracy to work well. For example, jury duty has been difficult to implement. According to Sun Sentinel, in South Florida about two of every three people skip jury duty with or without being exempted. Jurors in South Florida have only a 41% response rate and 3,000 people must be requested to fill 1,000 jury spots because of the high rejection rate. This may be an extreme case, but the lack of commitment to civic responsibility is not unique to Florida. Complacency in civic involvement ultimately leads to erosion of democracy and make our system stale and unsustainable. The ``lesser undertakings which the American citizens perform every day'' are essential in a democracy because government cannot fulfill all the needs of citizens. In a successful democracy individual rights and liberties must be applied impartially, education and current information must be readily available, and the citizens must do their part to allow the law to be applied fairly. America has survived and struggled through adversities to become one of the longest living democracies in the world because of its strong commitment to the Constitution, impartial application of the law and unrestricted information from varying political opinions. Democracy is an active and dynamic process, and flourishes with self-examination and engagement of its citizens, but languishes with complacency. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House to join me today in honoring Andrew Tan, an extraordinary young man, for his deep understanding of the rights and responsibilities of citizens in our nation, and for his ability to write about it in a cogent, understandable and inspiring style. He is an inspiration to all of us and he is an eloquent statement about the youth of our nation.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to the Shimkus amendment and efforts to undermine the continued success of the Internet. The Internet has always been driven by consensus decision-making, or multistakeholder governance. This model brings together industry, civil society, government, technical and academic experts, as well the general public, to tackle issues around the design and operation of the Internet. Three time in the past two years, this body has voted to reaffirm our commitment to the multistakeholder model, including last May when Democrats and Republicans joined together to unanimously pass H.R. 1580, a bill stating that ``it is the policy of the United States to preserve and advance the successful multistakeholder model that governs the Internet.'' So what exactly is the problem with the amendment before us today? It's a U-turn. The Shimkus amendment would restrict NTIA's authority to continue what has been U.S. policy since 1998--transitioning the government's role in administering the domain name system to the multistakeholder global community. Although supporters of the amendment characterize it as a stand against anti-democratic nations seeking a greater government role in Internet management, the amendment could have the opposite effect of emboldening efforts by authoritarian regimes to seize control of the global Internet. Specifically, authoritarian regimes point to the U.S. government's continued oversight of technical Internet functions as evidence that global Internet governance and management should be under the control of a governmental or intergovernmental entity such as the United Nations. The Shimkus Amendment lacks a fundamental understanding of the U.S. government's role in the management of the global Internet domain name system. Contrary to assertions that the United States ``controls'' the Internet through an ongoing contract that the Administration is now proposing to terminate, NTIA's role has always been ministerial and largely symbolic. Simply put, the U.S. government has never had any legal or statutory responsibility to manage the domain name system. The world is watching and now is not the time to turn our backs on a governance model that has the enabled the Internet to flourish. I urge my colleagues to take a stand for a global Internet free from government control and vote ``no'' on the Shimkus amendment.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary woman, Dr. Carol Winograd, who is being honored with the 2014 Tzedek v'Shalom Award on June 8, 2014, at J Street's Annual Gala Dinner. Elected officials, community leaders, local activists and students will join together in an unprecedented show of support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. J Street, the political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans, is honoring Dr. Carol Winograd for her lifelong dedication to tikkun olam (``repairing the world'') and for her steadfast leadership and commitment to J Street's mission. Carol Hutner Winograd, M.D., is an emerita professor of Medicine and Human Biology at Stanford University. She gives generously of her time and considerable talents in leadership roles to many organizations, including the National Board of Abraham's Vision; the San Francisco Regional Board of the New Israel Fund; and the American Board of Internal Medicine. She is a member of the steering committee of the Women Donors Network's Middle East Peace Circle, and the founder and former chair of the Advisory Board of the Jewish Chaplaincy at Stanford University Medical Center. In 2012, Dr. Winograd co-led J Street's first Women's Congressional Delegation to Israel, and in 2013, she co- founded J Street's Women's Leadership Forum to increase the participation of women leading the organization and to support the greater inclusion of Israeli and Palestinian women in peace negotiations. Dr. Winograd has been married for more than 43 years to Dr. Terry Winograd. They have two daughters, Avra, who is engaged to Justin Durak, and Shoshana, a Conservative rabbi who is married to Rabbi Philip Ohriner. Shoshana and Philip have two sons, Ari and Eli, who are a great source of pride and joy to their grandparents. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in honoring the 2014 Tzedek v'Shalom awardee, Dr. Carol Winograd, an extraordinary woman who is devoted to her community, her country, to Israel and to peace and justice. How proud and privileged I am to represent her and call her my trusted friend.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the American Research and Competitiveness Act of 2014, a bill to simplify and permanently extend the U.S. research and development (R&D) tax credit. Over the past thirty years, the R&D tax credit has been a key economic tool for businesses in my Silicon Valley district and across our country by directly rewarding business investment in R&D. At a time of great partisanship in Congress, I think the R&D we speak of today can be said to be `Republicans and Democrats' because of the bipartisan support this legislation enjoys. For years the R&D tax credit has been essential for out-innovating and out-competing the rest of the world, but now other countries are catching up or already have. While the U.S. was the first nation to offer a tax incentive for research and development in 1981, according to a study by the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF), we now rank 27th out of 42 countries in terms of the generosity of the R&D incentives we offer. Congress needs to do so much more to improve our national economy, and updating the R&D tax credit is an important policy that will encourage businesses to invest in new technologies which in turn will create jobs and shape a better economy in our future. Nearly six months have passed since the R&D tax credit expired. To maintain our nation's competitiveness, let's not wait another day to give businesses the certainty they need to continue innovating and investing in America's future. I thank Representatives Kevin Brady and John Larson for their leadership in bringing this bill to the floor today and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4438.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I was not present during rollcall vote No. 203 on May 7, 2014. I would like the record to reflect I would have voted ``yes''.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and work of an extraordinary man, Phil Yost, who died at the age of 63 after a three- year battle with cancer. The venerable San Jose Mercury News, Mr. Yost's employer for more than a quarter century, captured the essence of this special man in its obituary. Phil Yost was a gentle and decent man, a writer with an ethical compass that belied the stereotype of the cynical journalist. He was known for an unerring sense of fairness, a willingness to consider an argument from another side. Mr. Yost possessed a wry and wicked sense of humor, a light touch that emerged in his writing and life. Phil Yost was born in Chicago on February 6, 1951. He attended Earlham College, and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. The child of a Mennonite family, he was a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War, and a tutor of underprivileged children in Cincinnati. He worked at the Middletown Journal in Ohio and the Cincinnati Post, and joined the Mercury News in 1981. In 2006 he left the Mercury to work at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, and in 2010 became the policy and press aide to former California State Senator Joe Simitian. Simitian fondly noted that ``unflinching fairness'' was Yost's most aggravating trait. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in honoring the life and work of Phil Yost, and in extending condolences to his wife Susan, his parents Elnore and Burton Yost, his brother and sisters, and his entire family. He will be missed by all who had the good fortune to know him and be the beneficiaries of his extraordinary work. Phil Yost strengthened our democracy with his instructive journalism, and I'm proud to have known him and was privileged to call him my friend.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of an extraordinary woman, Lottie Solomon, a talented, loving and brilliant woman who died at her home in Los Altos Hills, California, on April 6, 2014, at the age of eighty-eight. Lottie was born in New York City on October 26, 1925, the only child of Sadie and Hyman Lautman. She attended public schools in New York City, graduated from James Monroe High School at sixteen, and from Brooklyn College at the age of twenty. She was an accomplished and highly regarded violinist who considered a career as a professional but instead earned a graduate degree and a teaching credential from Columbia University. She began her career as an elementary school and music teacher in New York City. In later years she earned a Masters degree in Healthcare Administration from The George Washington University. In 1947, Lottie married Herbert Solomon, a statistician she met while both were studying at Columbia. They were married for fifty-seven years, until his death in 2004. Lottie and Herbert moved to California when Herbert became a Professor of Statistics at Stanford University. Before moving to Los Altos Hills, the couple and their three children, Naomi, Mark and Jed, lived on the Stanford campus for fifteen years. Lottie was passionate about music and teaching, and played violin with the Peninsula Symphony and many quartets. She had a long career leading choral music, including founding and leading the Yiddish Choristers. Lottie gave generously of her time and considerable talents as a member of the Santa Clara County Juvenile Justice Commission. She also was a valued participant and contributor to many Jewish organizations including Congregations Beth Am and Kol Emeth, the Jewish Community Federation, B'nai B'rith, Hadassah, ORT, the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center, and Hillel at Stanford. Lottie Solomon was a loving daughter, wife, mother and grandmother. She leaves her sons Mark and Jeb, their wives Carolyn and Leslie Colvin; and her four grandchildren, Jacob Solomon, Sara Solomon, Nathaniel Solomon and Daniel Solomon. She was preceded in death by her daughter Naomi Solomon, who perished on September 11, 2001 in the World Trade Center attacks. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire U.S House of Representatives to join me in paying tribute to this extraordinary citizen and extending our most sincere condolences to her family. She will be missed greatly by those who had the privilege of knowing her and calling her their friend. Lottie was one of the blessings in my life, as was her husband and their son Mark. Lottie strengthened our community in countless ways, bettering our country through her service to others and raising a family that carries on the great values she embodied.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, we rise today to express our deepest gratitude and heartfelt congratulations to Wiggsy Sivertsen on the occasion of her retirement from San Jose State University where she has been a Personal Counselor and Licensed Clinical Social Worker for forty five years. Wiggsy Sivertsen has given generously of her time and considerable talent to the students at San Jose State, supporting them in their personal struggles and helping them achieve their professional goals. The student evaluations on an online site speak volumes about this extraordinary woman. ``Awesome teacher and subject! Best class I have ever taken in college.'' ``Concerned/outgoing/extremely funny/ sensitive. Busy woman that will make time for you.'' These are only two of many, many outstanding evaluations. Wiggsy Sivertsen earned a Bachelor's degree from San Jose State University and a Master's degree in Social Work from Tulane University. In the early 1980's, Wiggsy, fearless and ahead of her time, cofounded Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee (BAYMEC) to advocate for members of the LGBT community to address burgeoning discrimination against the LGBT community. She envisioned and designed BAYMEC to educate our communities and advocate for the rights of all. Wiggsy has spent thousands of hours lobbying elected officials for hate-crime legislation, marriage equality, and other LGBT rights. In addition to BAYMEC, she founded two other LGBT advocacy groups: Advocates for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Youth, a legal organization; and Open Mind Network, Inc, an organization which is an educational platform to inform organized groups of the legitimate rights of LGBT communities. She has also worked side-by-side with several community organizations and law enforcement to achieve these goals. Wiggsy's contributions to our country have been recognized by the Civil Liberties Union ``Don Edwards Defender of Constitutional Liberty'' Award, and the California State Special Recognition Award for Service to the Lesbian and Gay Community. She was also recognized by the San Jose Mercury News as one of ``The Millennium 100, Pillars of Their Communities''. Mr. Speaker, we ask our colleagues to join us in thanking Wiggsy Sivertsen for her extraordinary career as an educator at San Jose State University, and for her unswerving commitment to social justice for all, particularly the civil rights of the LGBT community. Her contributions will live on as her lasting legacy, and we honor her for strengthening our community immeasurably and making our country a more just and equitable one.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary woman and devoted leader in our community who has inspired numerous girls to strive for success and excel in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics STEM. Marie Wolbach cares deeply about ensuring that girls have the educational tools they need, and through the sheer force of her knowledge, determination, advocacy, participation, and persuasive talents, she created a unique educational opportunity for them. Marie Wolbach is a retired medical sociologist and recognizes the critical need for girls to learn about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. She founded Tech Trek in 1998 with the help of an American Association of University Women (AAUW) Community Action Grant. Tech Trek is a weeklong science, technology, engineering, and mathematics summer camp for underserved rising eighth-grade girls, offering them an opportunity to enter a world that empowers and encourages them to think about themselves as future scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and computer specialists. Since Tech Trek began on the campus of Stanford University, it has grown to ten camps on eight college campuses in California, and in 2013, it expanded nationally to seven other states where it has already positively impacted the lives of the girls who attended. Because of Marie Wolbach's vision, Tech Trek graduates are breaking barriers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math, with surveys demonstrating that 96 percent of their former participants are now in college, and 54 percent are STEM majors. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in paying tribute to this extraordinary woman as she is honored with the ``Unsung Heroes'' Jefferson Award. KPIX 5 nominated her for this prestigious award which she has earned and richly deserves. Marie Wolbach's unparalleled vision for a better future for girls strengthens our nation immeasurably and makes her a national treasure. It is a high privilege to represent Marie Wolbach, and call her my friend.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Football Team of Sacred Heart Prep in Atherton, California for winning the Central Coast Championship and the Northern California CIF Championship. They made history by being the first team in San Mateo County to play in the California CIF Championship Game. The Sacred Heart Prep Football Team is a combination of talent and competitive spirit with the highest ideals of good sportsmanship and has established itself as an exceptional group. With great dedication, the Gators worked diligently and ended their season on this historic note. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Head Coach Pete Lavorato, Assistant Head Coach Matt Moran, and Assistant Coaches Ed Larios, Mark Modeste, and Greg Sutter on an extraordinary season! The entire team can look back on this season with tremendous pride. I wish the seniors the best of luck in your next endeavors, and their younger teammates the best of luck in next year's season. Go Gators!

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3675, the Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2013, a bipartisan bill aimed at giving the FCC flexibility while promoting openness, transparency and accountability. Two years ago, the House of Representatives considered a very different version of the legislation, one which I opposed and that passed largely on partisan lines. I support the bill before us today because it gives the FCC flexibility to evaluate and adopt procedural changes to its rules, rather than putting rigid requirements in statute. The bill enhances transparency by establishing a publicly available, searchable consumer complaint database and provides the Universal Service Fund (USF) with a short term exemption from the Antideficiency Act. I'm also pleased that the bill includes the FCC Collaboration Act of 2013, a bipartisan bill I introduced last 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'm disappointed that this provision will not take effect immediately upon enactment, I'm hopeful that the Senate will modify this provision before passing similar legislation. A 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. 3675.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of an extraordinary American, Dr. Alejandro Zaffaroni, who passed away peacefully at his home in Atherton, California, at the age of 91. Dr. Zaffaroni was born on February 27, 1923, in Montevideo, Uruguay. He earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Montevideo in 1941, and came to the United States on a Fulbright Scholarship to the University of Rochester, where he earned his Ph.D. In 1951, after finishing an NIH Fellowship, Dr. Zaffaroni joined a privately held Mexican chemical company, Syntex. He was a major force in its transformation and brought it to the U.S., shaping it into a global pharmaceutical company located near Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. It became most known for pioneering the development of therapeutic corticosteroids and the birth control pill. Dr. Zaffaroni eventually became President of Syntex Laboratories and Director of Reasearch. Dr. Zaffaroni was widely hailed as not only a pioneer in the field of biotechnology, he was often referred to as the father of biotechnology in the United States and a Silicon Valley legend. His extraordinary accomplishments include the founding of the DNAX Institute, Alza Corporation, Affymax Inc., Affymetrix, Alexa Pharmaceuticals, Symyx Technologies and Maxygen. He was the recipient of many prestigious awards and honors, including the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in 1995. He was also honored by the creation of a $10 million financial aid program for Latin American students at Stanford University, the Alejandro and Lida Zaffaroni Scholarship and Fellowship Program, funded by colleagues who were inspired by Dr. Zaffaroni and his work. Dr. and Mrs. Zaffaroni are widely hailed for their extraordinary generosities to many humanitarian causes. I have had the privilege of knowing Dr. Zaffaroni and his family for many years. Always the consummate gentleman, he was a mentor and an inspiration to me. He was a man of great integrity, and his wise counsel and warm friendship will remain with me for a lifetime. Dr. Zaffaroni leaves his devoted wife Lida who was always his source of inspiration and support over a lifetime, his son, Dr. Alejandro Zaffaroni, his daughter-in-law Leah, his daughter Elisa, and his two beloved grandsons, Peter and Charles. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in extending our deepest condolences to Dr. Zaffaroni's wife, Lida, and his family. We honor this singularly brilliant man through whom unparalleled achievements were made to treat disease and prevent suffering. These are his lasting legacies. Dr. Zaffaroni was a national treasure and his contributions to science and medicine are and always will be heralded around the world as extraordinary gifts to the betterment of humankind.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to H.R. 3826 because it would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from ever regulating carbon emissions to stem climate change. H.R. 3826 moves the goalposts on the EPA's carbon emissions rules and would effectively guarantee that our nation's dirtiest power plants continue to spew carbon into the atmosphere and further exacerbate global warming. This bill is clearly a response to the President's Climate Action Plan, a series of executive actions designed to protect future generations from the harmful effects of climate change. I welcome the President's plan, and I regret the fact that House Leadership continues to steadfastly block action on climate change. Beyond the benefits to our air and climate, the EPA's proposed rules will provide regulatory certainty to fossil-fuel generators and would spur further development of renewable energy technologies that are our best chance to turn the tide of climate change. Simply denying that climate change is occurring is not a policy and is completely out of touch with reality. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently concluded with 95 to 100 percent certainty that humans are the principal cause of climate change. Such findings of the world's most highly regarded scientists cannot be more certain than this. The American people know that climate change is not a ``hoax'' or a ``fraud,'' as some of our colleagues claim, because they are experiencing the hottest years on record, as well as the most severe floods, wildfires and droughts in modern history. My home state of California is currently facing an unprecedented drought which is threatening the prosperity of everyone from urban and rural communities to farmers, fishermen, wildlife, and large and small businesses. Steps to halt and reverse the effects of climate change are well overdue, and our window to act is quickly closing. H.R. 3826 does the exact opposite, and for all these reasons, I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. I thank my friend and my colleague for yielding. I thank him for the work that he has done, as well as Mr. Whitfield, Mr. McKinley, Ms. Castor, and staff on both sides of the aisle. It feels good to come to the floor to speak on a package of bills that are bipartisan and that are really going to produce something for our country and help move us forward. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today in support of the package of these four bipartisan energy efficiency bills because they are going to save taxpayer dollars. They are very important. Title III of this legislation is a bill that I authored with Congressman Mike Rogers of Michigan to make the Federal Government's IT and data centers more energy efficient. We have been at this for a long time. By requiring Federal agencies to utilize the best technologies and energy management strategies, our legislation will reduce the Federal Government's energy use, save taxpayer dollars, and importantly, set the standard for the private sector. While we now routinely hear a lot about data centers, that was not the case when we started out examining this issue a decade ago. Back then, I had to explain to colleagues what a data center was. Today, just about everybody understands that data centers are a critical part of our national infrastructure and are found in nearly every sector of our economy. In 2005, I authored language in the Energy Policy Act that mandated an EPA study relative to energy use and energy costs of data centers. The report was transmitted to Congress in 2007 and served as a driver of both private and public investment in energy efficiency. Based on widespread agreement across government, industry, and academia, the bill before us today requires an update to that 2007 report. Data centers can be extremely energy inefficient. Experts estimate that most data centers could slash their energy use by 80 to 90 percent. That really takes our collective breath away. There are enormous opportunities in this by simply implementing existing technologies and best practices. So we can do this. We can get this done. While several companies in my Silicon Valley district have taken the lead in developing efficient, sustainable data centers, we can do much better across the private sector and the Federal Government.

Ms. ESHOO. I thank the gentleman. The Federal Government is the Nation's largest landowner, largest employer, and largest energy user, and so we should lead by example in improving the energy efficiency of our own data centers within the Federal Government. So the bill that Mr. Rogers and I have embedded in this package requires Federal agencies to do some really rather simple things that are going to lead to terrific outcomes. They need to develop plans to use more energy-efficient technologies and best practices, and require periodic evaluation of Federal data centers for energy efficiency. I want to thank Chairman Upton, Ranking Member Waxman, the staffs from both sides of the aisle, the Members that are part of the legislation that is part of this bipartisan package. And I also want to salute Paul Beck, who serves on my staff in my office, who has really been the wind beneath the sails of this bill. He has lived and breathed efficiency in data centers day in and day out.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, the 27th of February marks the 26th anniversary of the horrific attack against Armenians in the town of Sumgait in Soviet Azerbaijan. Dozens of Armenians were killed and hundreds more were wounded. During the pogrom, Armenian women and children were raped, people were set on fire and beaten to death, while police stood by unwilling or unable to intervene. The violence touched off a broader attack against Azerbaijan's ethnic Armenians, ultimately resulting in a war with Nagorno-Karabakh in which tens of thousands of people were killed. The conflict remains unresolved today and the military blockade of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic continues. The pogroms precipitated a massive refugee situation displacing hundreds of thousands of people, virtually eliminating Azerbaijan's once-significant Armenian population. Mr. Speaker, as people of conscience, this is a remembrance we must all engage in. For me, it is also a very personal remembrance. My own family fled the slaughter of the Armenian Genocide under the Ottomans, and when we learned of the massacres against Armenians in 1988, we saw history repeating itself. These vicious acts of murder, targeted at ethnic groups, must be forcefully condemned whenever and wherever we see them. Without our recognition and our forceful condemnation, the cycle of violence will continue. Even today, Christians and other minority groups are being driven from Syria by extremists, and the once large and diverse ethnic mosaic there is all but eradicated. Without our attention and action by the world community, there will be no end in sight. Today, Mr. Speaker, let us remember the Armenians who lost their lives in Azerbaijan 26 years ago. And then let us take up the work that our principles demand of us, standing united against ethnic violence, discrimination, extremism and brutality, wherever we find it.

Ms. ESHOO

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1232 because it begins to fix a broken procurement system that has been on the GAO's ``high-risk'' list since the early 1990's. Federal IT procurement has been a black hole of taxpayer dollars long before the deeply flawed rollout of Healthcare.gov. During my service on the House Intelligence Committee from 2003 to 2011, there were billions of dollars spent on IT projects that failed, without a shred of work product recoverable for the taxpayer. H.R. 1232 will go a long way toward addressing these problems by empowering agency CIOs and developing new IT acquisition guidelines and best practices. This bill is a strong start but I think there's more that can be done. Congressman Connolly and I have worked together to draft complementary legislation to FITARA, called the Reforming Federal Procurement of Information Technology Act. Our bill would create a new, high-level office of IT experts in the White House charged with reviewing major federal IT projects before they get off track. Our bill would also make it easier for small, innovative businesses to compete for federal projects by simplifying the contracting process. The Federal Acquisition Regulation is 1,900 pages long, and some agencies have a supplement that's an additional 1,000 pages. This rewards incumbent companies familiar with the rules and prevents open competition and innovation among vendors. I applaud Congressmen Issa and Connolly for working together on this important legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it.