Sam Farr

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I call you Chair because you were chair when I was on the committee, and I always respect your leadership in this field. As was stated, I am ranking member of the House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee, and that is responsible for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. The entire budgets of those administrations are bigger than the budget of all of California. It is a very important program, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is responsible for food policy. Most of our food policy in the United States is about health care. It's about feeding people and assisting those who don't have adequate access to fresh fruits and vegetables through creation of farmers markets and things like that. I'm here tonight because I'm deeply disturbed by the attention and sort of the media satisfaction that some are getting when they hear about the Ryan budget cut, squeeze, and trim; and I want to talk tonight a little bit not only to the families that receive the benefits but to the farmers who grow the food in this country. The Ryan budget is one you ought to look at before you leap, because if you look at it in detail, you will find that it has a lot to do with knowing about the price of everything and the cost of everything, but very little about knowing the value of what these programs are all about. Look, food in America is very important, and we wouldn't be having all these health care debates and issues if it weren't for the issues of health care. Health care begins with food. If you're going to grow healthy people, it has to do with what they eat, and we also know it has to do with the exercise that they participate in. Of about a $100 billion budget, $65 billion of that is in food and nutrition. It's about feeding people. We feed a lot of people in the government. We certainly feed everybody in the military. We feed people in public institutions. We feed children in schools, and we also give families a choice of what they want to buy with the old food stamp program, now known as the SNAP program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. In my district, one out of every five families is receiving this assistance. And what do they do with that? They can buy, because we produce so much fresh fruits and vegetables, a much healthier diet than they would have otherwise. Indeed, if we're going to prevent illness in America, we have to keep people healthy. Who grows this food? Who produces this food? It's the farmers of America. They don't give it away. We buy it from them. A huge percentage of the income to farmers in this country comes from the food they produce for our institutional feeding and for our health care programs. The Ryan budget devastates that. He cuts, squeezes, and trims the farmers in this country, the growers, the people that create the food security in America. So look before you leap. This budget does a lot more harm than good. And, frankly, the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program is a very good program. We even have spouses and children of military families that are receiving this because at some locations the pay isn't great enough to be able to give them all of the nutritional foods that they need. So if we're going to grow a healthy America, we've got to keep this program, and we've got to avoid falling in love with the Ryan budget which will do everything but create a healthier, safer, sounder and more fiscally capable government. I urge the defeat of that budget and the support of the American farmers.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Susan A. McCloud, who retires as the longest-serving Mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, on April 17, 2012. Sue was born in Connecticut to Walter and Gladys McCloud. Her family moved to Carmel when she was in elementary school and she lives now in the same house her parents bought. We both shared the joys of growing up in Carmel, attending Sunset Elementary and Carmel High School. Sue earned her B.A. in Political Science at Stanford University, attended the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland, and graduated from The National War College in Washington, D.C. In the early 1960's Sue worked as the Special Assistant and interpreter to Richard C. Zellerbach, who was deaf, while he was Acting Chairman of the Board of the Crown Zellerbach Corporation and head of the Zellerbach family foundations. She also assisted with the organization of the family vineyard, Hanzell, in Sonoma, California. From 1963 to 1994 Sue served our nation with the Central Intelligence Agency in France, England, Japan, Switzerland and Sweden. She was named C.I.A. Chief of Station in two of those countries, and retired as a member of the Senior Intelligence Service. While in the C.I.A. Sue worked with policy levels of foreign governments and served as an advisor to several U.S. Ambassadors, worked on task forces to address long-term planning for the post-Cold War C.I.A. and the greater U.S. Intelligence Community, and headed up the Aldrich Ames damage assessment team. Upon retiring in 1994 she moved back to her roots, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and immediately got down to work. She was on the Board of Director of Monterey Institute of International Studies and chaired its Planning Committee, was a member of the Carmel Planning Commission and the Board of the Carmel Music Society. In 1998 Sue joined the Monterey Regional Waste Management District and also was elected to the Carmel City Council. She became Director of the M.R.W.M.D. and continues to this day as vice chair. She was elected Mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea in 2000 and was re-elected four times, becoming the longest-serving Mayor of our town. How can I begin to thank her for all her years of public service? She has won so many awards: the 2009 Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Ruth Vreeland Memorial ``Public Official of the Year'', 2000 Lincoln Club of Northern California Ten Most Effective Women Legislators, C.I.A.'s Intelligence Medal of Merit, Donovan Award for Excellence (given in memory of the founder of the Office of Strategic Services.) I am always mindful of the talent that has come from our area, and she is one of our nation's best. Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for the whole House as I commend Mayor Sue McCloud for all she has done and all she will undoubtedly continue to do. I extend my most sincere thanks and warmest wishes for her success and much happiness in her retirement.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Mariko ``Mollie'' Sumida. Mollie passed away on March 5th. Mollie was a great woman and personal friend. She played an instrumental role in teaching me cross- cultural sensitivity. She and her husband, Yukio were also close family friends of my mom and dad, the late Janet Haskins Farr and Senator Frederick Sharon Farr. Mollie and her family moved to the Monterey Peninsula when she was 12 years old. She attended Monterey High School, where she met her future husband, Yukio Sumida. During World War II, Mollie was interned in Poston, Arizona while her husband served overseas with the highly decorated 442nd Infantry Division. Following the war, they returned to Monterey, where their daughter Ann and son Ray were born. In 1952, Mollie opened the Cypress Garden Nursery, where she worked until retiring at the age of 80. During this time she became very active in civic as well as business organizations including the Monterey History and Art Association, Gateway Center, and the California Association of Nurserymen. I fondly remember the many things Mollie taught me in life, including how to speak a few Japanese words and, most everlastingly, how to be a gardener. I will sorely miss her. Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for the whole House when I recognize the contributions of her remarkable life. I would like to extend my deepest condolences to her family and friends during their time of grieving.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and remarkable public service of John Nolen Bailey. Mr. Bailey passed away on March 22nd. He will be remembered for his volunteerism, vision and leadership in Monterey County as well as his leadership in the national field of association management. Mr. Bailey was born on July 12, 1935 in San Francisco. He began his service to the Monterey Peninsula in 1988, with his wife Mary Adams. Highlights among John's more than 50 years experience as a leader in the professional association world include his serving as chief elected officer of the 25,000-member American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), President and CEO of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), as well as executive director of Trial Lawyers Care, a New York City-based organization that provided pro bono legal representation to more than 1,700 victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. John served on the National Steinbeck Center Board of Trustees, Forest Foundation, Del Monte Forest Property Owners Association, Clark Foundation, Dorothy's Place, and was the executive director of the Monterey History and Art Association from 2005 to 2007. He later returned to the Museum to assist it during a period of organizational transition. The museum had been closed and would not have reopened had it not been for the expertise and community trust belonging to John Bailey. Awards honoring his years of service include being voted by peers as the US Association Executive of the Year, and recipient of the Key Award, the highest honor presented to individuals in the association management profession. He was also a recipient of the prestigious Points of Light Award, which was presented to him by then President George H. W. Bush. Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for the whole House as I commend John Bailey for all he has accomplished and contributed to our community. I would like to express my gratitude for his selfless service to the people of Monterey County, and indeed to our nation. I would also like to extend my deepest condolences to his family, friends and all those whose lives he touched and whose careers he encouraged during this time of grieving. The world has lost a truly good man.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to recognize John Myers. Mr. Myers passed away on March 23rd. Mr. Myers was a lifelong volunteer and champion of community outreach and development in Monterey County. John attended college at Purdue University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering in 1951. He then joined Union Carbide Corporation where he worked for the next 42 years in research and production of enriched uranium used in nuclear energy and in asbestos research. Following his retirement in 1993 John remained busy. John served on the Board of Trustees, and as Chairman and Office Manager at Mee Memorial Hospital from 1982 to 2012. His time on the board saw upgraded services in radiology, new and remodeled clinics, a new dialysis center and many other services expanded. Among John's many other notable positions held was as member of the King City Planning Commission and the King City Council. John served as Mayor of King City from 1992 to 2004, the longest-running mayor in the city's history. As Mayor, he also served as vice chair of the Monterey County Mayor's Association and on the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District Board. He was also a member of the Bay Area chapter of the League of California Cities. John and his wife of 35 years served on the Hospice Trees of Life committee as well as for the first Valley Heritage Days in King City. He was also an active member and director of Monterey County Agricultural and Rural Life Museum. Mr. Speaker, I have no doubt that John Myers' life and legacy will continue to thrive because of his longstanding work for his community. I would like to extend my sympathy to his family and friends in this their time of mourning.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong opposition to the shortsighted foreign assistance cuts in Chairman Ryan's FY13 Budget. The Ryan Budget slashes our foreign aid by 10%, dangerously undermining some of the most low-cost, high-return tools in our national security toolbox. And why? Because the Chairman claims it will help to reduce the deficit. But the numbers tell a very different story. These foreign aid cuts amount to 0.2% reduction in our deficit. Two-tenths of one percent! Dr. Mike Tierney of The College of William & Mary put it best when he said, ``Cutting foreign aid to address the budget crisis is like getting your hair cut in an effort to lose weight.'' In our present fiscal environment, every dollar we spend must yield the highest possible return on our investment. And that means doing everything possible to efficiently reduce the threat of costly conflict and build stable, peaceful American allies. And who is on the frontlines of building peace? Our State Department diplomats, our USAID development professionals, our Peace Corps Volunteers, our US Institute of Peace civilian power, our Inter-American Foundation grassroots development capacity, to name a few. And the budget that supports this smart power amounts to less than 2% of our total budget. Talk about big return on small investment! But the Ryan Budget cuts will also have real reverberations for US workers. Foreign aid creates strong markets for US goods; 11 of our top 15 trading partners are graduates of US foreign assistance programs. And one out of every five American jobs is tied to trade. So, not only does this ill-conceived budget jeopardize our national security efforts, it takes an unnecessary swipe at American workers in the midst of a fragile economic recovery. Mr. Chair, make no mistake about it: I firmly believe we need to get our fiscal house in order. So for this reason, we must support foreign assistance because foreign assistance supports peace. And peace is the least costly, most important tool in our national security toolbox.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished career and public service of Ronald H. Tyler. Mr. Tyler passed away on January 27. He will be remembered for his several decades of work to improve the agriculture industry in Monterey, Santa Clara and San Benito Counties. Ronald graduated from the University of California Davis with a degree in Pomology in 1955. After graduating, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army, and served two years active duty before rising to the rank of Captain in the California National Guard. In 1957, he joined the University of California Agricultural Extension Service where he became Farm Advisor to San Benito, Santa Clara and Monterey Counties. Among his many elected and appointed positions, Ronald was a member of the Agricultural Board of Directors, and a founding member and president of the Agricultural History Project. He served as County Director and Farm Advisor in Santa Cruz for three decades, from 1971 until his retirement in 1991. Ronald exhibited a passion for agricultural development on California's Central Coast. His research involved rootstocks and training for high density apple orchards, irrigation, pest and disease control, and cranberry production. In honor of his research, he was cited for distinguished service by state and national Agricultural Extension organizations and was the first recipient of the Al Smith Friend of Agriculture Award from the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I announce the passing of Ronald Tyler. I know I speak for the whole House as I recognize his life and work. I commend him for all he accomplished and contributed to California's agriculture industry, and the communities he lived and worked in. I would also like to extend my deepest condolences to his family, friends and those who benefitted from his accomplishments.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate International Women's Day and the remarkable achievements of women around the world. I have always used my voice and vote to support foreign policies and assistance to promote equality for women and girls in agriculture, education, the workforce, politics, and beyond. To be sure, the funding is never enough to meet the need. But with minimal resources and relentless grassroots and grasstops advocacy, women the world over are bending the narrative of our times towards gender equality. While this is happening in all corners of the globe, I want to highlight the tremendous gains the women and girls of Latin America have made in recent years. Not too long ago, women were just 20% of the Latin American labor market. But in the last 50 years, that figure has doubled and today, women are roughly 40% of the region's workforce. These professional gains have a powerful ripple effect, particularly in political participation where women now make up 22% of Latin American legislatures, which surpasses the global average of 18.6%. Clearly, women in Latin America are a force to be reckoned with. And that's a cause to celebrate! But while these gains are significant, this is no time to sit back on our laurels. There is still much more to be done to sustain this important tide of momentum in Latin America, and also help to propel a similar groundswell in other parts of the world where women still struggle for basic rights and equality. We must continue to fight for policies and programs that promote equal access to opportunity for women and girls. So, today and every day, let us do all that we can to make gender inequality a thing of history and gender equality a reality of the future.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 51st anniversary of the Peace Corps. In just 51 years, the Peace Corps has been an unparalleled force for peace. Listen to the numbers: 139 developing countries have been served; over 200,000 returned Peace Corps volunteers and four of those are Members of Congress. Taken together, these volunteers have contributed more than 400,000 years of service in the name of peace. I am proud to be a part of these ranks. The Peace Corps changed my life, and it continues to change the lives of both those who serve and the communities that are served. In 2012, this call to service doesn't show any signs of slowing down. As I speak, 9,095 Americans are serving in 76 countries. This includes my constituent Chase Rollings of Santa Cruz, who is working in Ethiopia teaching the English language for a tour guide association to increase ecotourism and helping women develop honey production and dried fruit projects to promote their income. That is just the work of one volunteer. Today, I honor Chase and hundreds of thousands of other Peace Corps volunteers past and present. Each one of you represents America's highest ideals: peace, prosperity, and friendship. Truly your service is more important today than it has ever been. Congress must fund the Peace Corps. It is the best job in America.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following. [From the Monterey Herald, Jan. 22, 2012] Dave and Wendy Banks Teach Villagers During Peace Corps Experience (By Amy E. West) When Carmel's Dave and Wendy Banks met in the 1960s, they talked about joining the Peace Corps. What they didn't realize was it would take them more than four decades to make it happen. After marrying, raising kids and retiring, they said to each other, ``You know what we talked about long ago? Maybe we should try it.'' The retired couple returned to Carmel in 2010 after spending more than two years in Tanzania, educating villagers about HIV prevention, biology and English. Surprisingly, they integrated well into the Tanzanian culture. ``If you have gray hair, you're in,'' said Dave Banks, 70, a retired pharmacist. Their Tanzanian village of about 1,000 people not only respected their elders, but also respected the customs of one another. The village, Maringo, had two major tribes, and Catholic, Muslim and Lutheran faiths lived and celebrated traditions together, which impressed the Bankses. ``I think a lot of places in the world could take an example from Tanzania,'' said Wendy Banks, 69, a retired teacher. Tanzanians subsist on less than a dollar a day, and at least 10 percent of the population lives with HIV. The stigma of the disease, especially with women, inspired the Bankses to start a life skills club to teach how to prevent the spread of HIV and brainstorm ways for HIV-inflicted villagers to support their families. High school students from the club performed skits and raps for the younger school kids, and persuaded even Muslim girls to do condom demonstrations. Primary education, required in Tanzania, is free, but tuition for high school costs about $100 a year. Educating boys takes priority over girls, but the headmaster in Maringo worked hard to keep the ratio at 50 percent. To stay in school, girls commonly find older men to finance their education in exchange for sexual favors. ``Babu'' Dave and ``Bibi'' Wendy worked to teach the women to say, ``No, not without a condom.'' ``You just don't know if you get through,'' Wendy said. The headmaster also requested their help teaching in a high school with 500 students and only two teachers. Dave taught biology and Wendy taught English to 80 freshmen each. To start the school's first library, the couple called for donations from Monterey Peninsula residents, who mailed nearly 3,000 books. To cover shipping costs of nearly $55 a box, the community raised $5,000. The couple's family also offered support. A ganddaughter requested soccer balls--used or new--instead of gifts for her 10th birthday, and shipped them with pumps to Tanzania. One of the couple's daughters raised money to finance two girls' education for three years. The couple brought with them a laptop, printer, solar charger, shortwave radio and a power strip, which proved especially useful in a village that had just one room with electricity and many villagers with cellphones that needed charging. Wendy Banks was struck by villagers' resourcefulness. ``They can do so much with so little,'' she said. One memorable side trip seems to bear this out. To get to a larger city a few hours away, the couple rode in trucks called dala-dalas, which were crammed with livestock, people and bags and had ``already lived their life and died,'' Dave Banks said. On one trip, the truck got a flat tire. The driver used a pile of rocks to jack up the truck, but jammed on the wrong size spare tire. Soon after starting up again, the truck ran out of gas. After the driver borrowed a bike to travel to the only village with gas, he returned and swished gasoline in his mouth, spit it on the carburetor, and they were finally on their way. ``Traveling was just so awful,'' Wendy said. ``When we got off the bus, we were always real happy,'' Dave said. The average age of a Peace Corps volunteer is 28, and only 7 percent of volunteers are older than 50 or married. The organization is trying to change that. In November it teamed up with AARP to reach out to volunteers with a lifetime of skills and professional experience. The oldest volunteer currently serving in the Peace Corps is 82, just five years younger than the oldest volunteer ever to serve. But the Peace Corps' rigorous medical background may stymie the process for older Americans, who must provide thorough documentation to show a clean bill of health. Though both Wendy and Dave were in excellent physical health, the Peace Corps still requested medical records dating back to their 20s. Applicants with diseases like diabetes can serve, but may be placed closer to medical facilities instead of in remote villages. For Dave and Wendy, 18 months passed from the time they submitted the application until they left for Tanzania. Though they returned a year and a half ago, the couple still uphold one of the three Peace Corps goals--promoting a better understanding of Tanzanians to Americans. They've given numerous talks around the San Francisco Bay Area and don't seem to tire of telling their stories. In an African culture that respects their elders, but also depends on an extended family for support, the Tanzanians thought it odd for two people to leave their home and family of four children and 10 grandchildren. Wendy's response: ``We'll go back to our family . . . and maybe our family will be better, because we had this experience to share.''

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize thirty-four Congressional Gold Medal recipients from my District in Central California for their courageous service to our nation during World War II as part of the Military Intelligence Service (MIS), the 100th Infantry Battalion (100th Inf), and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team (RCT). Established on November 1, 1941, MIS graduated 6,000 service members during World War II to provide critical Japanese language capabilities to the American military. These brave servicemen and women provided translation, interpretation and code breaking services in the essential Pacific Theater, which contributed significantly to our nation's victory. In the 1970s, the MIS's name changed to the Defense Language Institute, and all of the Department of Defense language programs were consolidated at Monterey, California. From there the program grew into the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. The 100th Inf was largely made up of former members of the Hawaii Army National Guard. It was a unit within the US Army's 34th Infantry Division and later combined with the 442nd RCT, another mostly Nisei unit. Together as a single fighting combat team they saw action in Italy where they earned the nickname of ``Purple Heart Battalion.'' Following World War II, the battalion was reorganized into reserve status but over the decades it was ordered back into active service several times, most recently in Iraq. The original MIS, the 100th Inf, and the 442nd RCT were primarily comprised of Nisei, second-generation Japanese-Americans. They faced crushing prejudice and discrimination in the United States during WWII. Many of their family members suffered internment while they were serving their country. This exceptional group has received honors and commendations of the highest level. Our nation awarded the Medal of Honor to twenty-one members of the 100th Infantry Battalion of the 442nd RCT for heroism during WWII. In 2000, the MIS received the Presidential Unit Citation, the highest possible honor for a military unit, and in 2010 the Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to the 442nd RCT and the 100th Inf, as well as the 6,000 graduates of the MIS. At the end of the war, General Charles Willoughby, Chief of Staff for Military Intelligence under General MacArthur, said that ``The Nisei shortened the Pacific War by two years and saved possibly a million American lives and saved probably billions of dollars'' during the conflict. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be paying tribute to this outstanding group of men who selflessly served our nation during World War II proving the loyalty and bravery of second generation Japanese Americans. From the 100th Infantry Brigade: Louie Hayashida, Tom Kakimoto, Richard Kawamoto, Robert Kitagi, Ky Miyamoto, William Omoto, Kaz Sugano, and Sam Sugidono. From the 442nd Regimental Combat Team: Haruo Esaki, Yoshio Fujita, Royal Manaka, Yutaka Nagasaki, Winston Nakagawa, Fred Sakasegawa, Roy Sakasegawa, and Kunio Shimamoto. From the Military Intelligence Service: George Aihara, Roy Hattori, Paul Ichiuji, Otis Kadani, Hajime Kawata, Shig Kihara, Robert Mirikitani, George Nakamura, Kei Nakamura, Toshio Nakanishi, Terry Nakanishi, Gengo Sakamoto, Setsuo Takemoto, George Tanaka, Frank Tokubo, Ben Umeda, Jiro Watanabe, and Goro Yamamoto. I know I speak for the entire House of Representatives in honoring these heroes.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of myself and my late father, State Senator Fred Farr, to honor the life of a dear family friend, Larry Horan, who died recently at the all too young age of eighty-two following a short illness. Larry became a dear personal friend of my father, and for much of my own life, was like an uncle to me. He was a skilled lawyer and devoted family man whose example of public service and dedication to others served as a model for everybody who has the good fortune to know him. Larry and his wife of fifty-eight years, Jean, were both University of California graduates. They raised five children who in turn gave them twelve grandchildren. Larry and Jean's deep friendship with my late father made them almost a part of my own family, and I theirs. Indeed, as Larry's melanoma took hold, he and Jean approached my wife Shary to help them work the issues that they faced as the end of Larry's life neared. Horan was a devout Catholic who attended 8 a.m. Mass at the Carmelite Monastery virtually every day. I always knew Larry to be concerned about the others around him. It was never about Larry. I don't think he had a negative bone in his body. Larry was an attorney for more than fifty years and one of the most respected in Monterey County. During a rich and full life, he directed the Peace Corps in three Central and South American countries, was a regional director of President Johnson's War on Poverty, served on the board of the Monterey Institute of International Studies, and was a leader of the Special Olympics. Horan's wide-ranging law practice included civil litigation, conservation easements, and land use among other areas. Upon graduation from the Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Larry signed on as a prosecutor in the Alameda County District Attorney's office. After five years as a prosecutor, my father, then state Sen. Fred Farr, lured Larry and his wife Jean to the Monterey Peninsula in 1960 to join his law firm. Their partnership and friendship lasted many years. The law partnership grew and transformed and has become one of the leading firms on the Central Coast, with the Horan name at the lead. The Horans were great admirers of President John F. Kennedy, whose assassination in 1963 spurred them to change their lives. Following JFK's call to service, Larry and Jean became a Peace Corps family. With their four young children, Kevin, Kathleen, Maurine, and Stephen, they set out for Central America. Larry eventually served as agency director in El Salvador and Costa Rica and in Colombia, where their youngest daughter Laura was born and where I was already serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Medellin. Following the Peace Corps, Sargent Shriver tapped Larry to head the Western Regional office for President Johnson's War on Poverty. Later, Shriver asked Larry to establish and chair the Northern California Chapter of the Special Olympics. Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for the whole House in recognizing the contributions that Larry Horan made to make this world a better place. We offer our condolences to his family and friends. Those of us who had the good fortune to have known Larry are better people for the experience.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the public service of a true community pillar of California's Central Coast. Jaci Pappas is a fifth generation Californian who grew up in Stockton, California. But it has been in Big Sur where she has found her life's calling as champion volunteer. And while she has never sought out accolades, her neighbors have seen fit to honor her on March 2, 2012, as ``Volunteer Extraordinaire.'' They have all benefited from Jaci's efforts to realize her life's theme: ``Always give back to your community in whatever way you can.'' Jaci earned a Business Administration degree from Mills College in Oakland, California. Soon after, she began her public service career in Sacramento as assistant to my good friend Assemblyman Willie Brown while he served as chair of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. In 1973, after twelve years in the Capitol, Jaci was appointed City Clerk for the City of Sacramento--the first woman to hold the position since Sacramento's founding in 1850. In 1979, Jaci married architect Steve Pappas, and together they bought property and moved to Big Sur. She established herself as a bookkeeper working for various small businesses in Big Sur. Her volunteer work began in 1980 when she took on the unpaid position of secretary and then treasurer of the Coast Property Owners Association. She later held the same positions with the Big Sur Historical Society, and also served a number of years as head of the local Election Board, encouraging participation by all community members in the election process. In addition to these leadership roles, Jaci has devoted countless hours giving her business and administrative skills to help community groups accomplish their work. Jaci has voluntarily handled the bookkeeping for the Big Sur River Run since its inception in 1981. That event has raised more than $800,000 for the Big Sur Health Center and the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade, two organizations for which Jaci also handles the bookkeeping. Other causes that she has helped in this way include the Big Sur Historical Society, Big Sur Jazz Festival, Big Sur Hidden Gardens Tour, Big Sur Grange, the Big Sur Community Emergency Response Team, the Big Sur Natural History Association, the Henry Miller Memorial Library, the Big Sur Public Library, and the Big Sur Food & Wine Festival. She also contributes her time as the editor of the Big Sur Grange, and the Round Up newsletters. She is even co-chair of the Big Sur Book Club. Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for the whole House as I acknowledge and congratulate Jaci Pappas, Big Sur's ``Volunteer Extraordinaire,'' for her record of stellar public service, and wish her many happy years ahead in which I know she will continue to teach us all how to live life well in voluntary service to others.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to recognize the life, career, and public service of Dr. Jeff Braff. Dr. Braff passed away on January 16th. He will be remembered for his optometric services to the city of Salinas, his contribution to political change in the Central Coast of California, and as my personal friend and doctor. Jeff grew up working in his father's contact lens laboratory in Arcadia, California. He attended the University of California at Berkeley where he earned a degree in optometry in 1964. After graduating, he traveled to India where he helped set up the country's first contact lens fabricating laboratory. After returning to the United States, Jeff was drafted in to the US Army and served as an optometrist at the Fort Ord military base. He completed his military service in 1972 and moved to Salinas where he practiced optometry for the next 37 years. As the representative for the California Optometric Association and the Monterey Bay Optometric Association, Jeff played an invaluable role in local politics in the Central Coast of California. Jeff volunteered for many political campaigns, including for Leon Panetta's first election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 and my own run in 1976 for the Monterey County Board of Supervisors. Jeff was also instrumental in drawing support for several political campaigns in Bainbridge Island, Washington. His ability to draw support to local elections and political change earned him a following. ``Jeff's Group'' became an informal name given to those he could count on to show up and wave signs, hand out coffees, and recruit neighbors to support the many causes he was involved in. In a document entitled ``How I Want to be Remembered'' Jeff wrote: ``Between being born and dying, he didn't take some things seriously that should have been, took some things seriously that shouldn't have, was getting the hang of love, and anger, and play, and all that; he tinkered with life, and did OK.'' Mr. Speaker, it is with great pain that I announce the passing of Jeff. I would like to personally acknowledge his service to the people of California. It was the relationships that he fostered at his practice that kept him invigorated and loving his work. I would like to express my deepest condolences to Sue, his loving wife of 36 years, his son, Zack and his brother, Brian.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life, public service and philanthropy of Jean Leidig Draper, Carmel's ``Grand Dame.'' Mrs. Draper passed away January 20th. She will be remembered for her generous support of local, civic, and cultural organizations on the Central Coast of California and for the many lives she touched through her community work in the city of Carmel. After attending Dominican College in San Rafael and the California Institute of Arts in San Francisco, Jean married Raymond Draper. Together they had three children: Wendy, Michael and Susan. Jean was widely known for her love of Carmel and the causes she supported. Included among the many recipients of Jean's generosity were the Carmel Library, the Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula, the Forest Theatre Foundation, the Carmel Foundation, the Pacific Repertory Theater, the American Red Cross, Westland House, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Jean served as the first elected Chaplain of the Stillwater Cove Yacht Club. She was a dedicated supporter of Chartwell School and a longtime parishoner of the Carmelite Monastery. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pain that I announce the passing of Jean. I would like to personally acknowledge her life and commitment to the city of Carmel. I would also like to extend my deepest condolences to her family, friends and all those who benefitted from her service, generosity, and kindness.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Marcia Gambrell Hovick, who passed away on January 31, 2012 at the age of 89. Marcia's long life was devoted to the theater. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1922, she began taking ballet lessons at the age of three, went on stage in children's theater at the age of four, and was playing piano when she was five. Right from the start, all who knew her recognized her talent. Marcia graduated from Austin High School, in Austin, Texas. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Drama at Mills College in Oakland, California, and married Jack Hovick, a medical student. Jack became an obstetrician, and in 1956 they settled their growing family in Monterey, California. Together they had four children: Christopher, Nicholas, Kirsten, and Gwyneth, who preceded her in death. Marcia soon was organizing a children's theater group, The Children's Experimental Theatre. Marcia said, ``Children's theatre . . . is a truly awesome, transformational experience. It gives to children a kind of confidence, a location of themselves in the world, an ability to really notice each other, a feeling of mutual dependence and satisfaction.'' Marcia wrote most of the plays she used in these productions. Many scripts available for children at the time were what she called ``patronizing, simple-minded, phony.'' ``What children are interested in,'' she said, ``is truth. We can't always provide the truth, but at least we can give them a stab at it.'' She carried this exploration of truth forward in the monologues she wrote and performed herself, giving meaning to those women's lives. She also created the Traveling Troupe that brought theater into schools, and founded Staff Repertory Players. Mr. Speaker, Marcia Gambrell Hovick was a teacher, director, actor, monologist, and writer. She touched many lives in her community, including my own daughter's, and was devoted to nurturing children and exploring truth through her art. It is a privilege and a high honor on behalf of her beloved community to recognize her life. She will be missed and I know I speak for the whole House in honoring the life of this dedicated and talented woman.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate and honor a young student from my district who has achieved national recognition for exemplary volunteer service in her community. Holly Borg of Santa Cruz has just been named one of the top honorees in California by the 2012 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, an annual honor conferred on the most impressive student volunteers in each state and the District of Columbia. Ms. Borg is being recognized for founding her school's Interact Club and serving as the Governor of Interact's District Council. Under Holly's leadership, the district raised more than $100,000 to support ShelterBox International, an organization that provides long-term shelter for families affected by disaster. Given the challenges we face today, it is vital that we encourage and support the kind of selfless contributions that these young citizens have made. Youth volunteers like Ms. Borg are inspiring examples to all of us, and are among our brightest hopes for a better tomorrow. The program that brought this young role model to our attention--The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards--was created by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals in 1995 to impress upon all youth volunteers that their contributions are critically important and highly valued, and to inspire other young people to follow their example. Over the past 17 years, the program has become the nation's largest youth recognition effort based solely on community service, and more than 100,000 young volunteers at the local, state and national level. Ms. Borg should be extremely proud to have been singled out from the thousands of dedicated volunteers who participated in this year's program. She has demonstrated a level of commitment and accomplishment that is truly extraordinary in today's world, and deserves our sincere admiration and respect. Her actions show that young Americans can--and do--play important roles in our communities, and that America's community spirit continues to hold tremendous promise for the future. Mr. Speaker, I heartily applaud Ms. Borg for her initiative in seeking to make her community a better place to live, and for the positive impact she has had on the lives of others.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Dr. Rama Khalsa, who retired as the Director of Health Services of Santa Cruz County in the state of California. Not only was she a leader in the field of health services, but also in mental health. During her thirty- five years of service in the health care field, Rama was an advocate for reducing the costs and improving the quality of health services for low-income and uninsured residents of the county. Her career began in 1976 as a Juvenile Court Psychologist in the San Bernardino County Probation Department, and then segued into mental health which has been her career. She has won numerous awards, participated in many research projects, has been awarded honors and doctorate degree, but is most proud of her accomplishments in the field of community access to mental health services. She was a founder and first Chair of the Health Safety Net Clinic Coalition of Santa Cruz County, promoted the potential of Health Information Technology in the last decade, and was a key leader in the development of the local children's health coverage program for Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Merced Counties. During my tenure in the California State Legislature we worked together on the revision of the California Mental Health Master Plan Act to upgrade services and make mental health treatment more accessible in our state. Rama has been an active member of the Board of Directors of Central Coast Alliance for Health, served on various committees, and has given her time for the Health Services Agency, Health Improvement Partnership Council, Safety Net Clinic Coalition, Health Information Technology, and Santa Cruz Health Information Exchange. After thirty-five years of public service, Rama hopes to spend more time painting, traveling, volunteering, enjoying classical and Celtic music and spending more time with her two children, Siri and Dayal, in her retirement. She also plans to continue with health advocacy, grant writing and policy work. Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for the whole House and the entire mental health community in California as I commend Rama Khalsa for all she has done and all she will undoubtedly continue to do. I extend my most sincere thanks and warmest wishes for her success and much happiness in her retirement. We are all blessed by her public service.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Joanne B. ``Joey'' Lasnik, who passed away January 4, 2012. Lasnik was a longtime community activist, volunteer, leader, daughter, grandmother, and friend. Lasnik was an active member of the Monterey County Commission on the Status of Women, the Monterey County Overall Economic Development Commission, the Monterey County Democratic Women's Club, a leader on the National and local level of the Girl Scouts, the Salinas branch of NAACP, and the American Association of University Women, she served on the committee for the Fort Ord Task Force, and the advisory Board of KHDC. In 1981 Joanne was the first woman ever to be named foreman of the Monterey County Grand Jury. Joey proudly served four terms on the Hartnell College Board of Trustees. Joey always strived to enhance the status of women and seniors throughout her professional life as the Executive Director of the Volunteer Center for Salinas, Executive Director of the Alliance on Aging, a Board member of the Salinas Senior Center, and Executive Director of Meals on Wheels of Salinas Valley. She was instrumental in developing the vision to build a one-step state of the art Senior Center in Salinas. Joey had a talent for grant writing, passion for education, and beliefs in fairness and equality. She helped to train others to continue and expand on her work. She is considered an important mentor to many women. Joanne had many tremendous accomplishments from her Bachelors in Education for the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Masters in Science from Purdue University, to all of her volunteer work, helping to organize women's shelters and partaking in numerous community groups. In addition, she was an accomplished needle-pointer, seamstress, and creative cook, but most of all she was a proud parent to Leslie, Jay, Mark, her daughter in law and beloved grandchildren as well as her ``adopted'' sons from Japan she hosted for over 10 years. Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for the whole House in mourning the passing of this dedicated and loving woman. Her life was a gift to her community, a shining example to be emulated by those who she inspired to continue her work.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Uni-Capitol Washington Internship Program. Since its inception 13 years ago, the program has placed some of Australia's best and brightest university students, who have exhibited a passion for civic engagement and public service, with House and Senate offices for two-month full-time internships annually. These internships have enabled me and my staff, who have participated since the program's inception to share in our common values and ideals, while at the same time learning more about the Commonwealth of Australia. It is an understatement to say that the United States and Australia are close allies globally, or that we share many political and economic traits. We are in many ways akin to extended family, sharing much tied history and culture. It is in this spirit that the program was launched 13 years ago to further such relations. Since its beginnings, the program has seen more than 130 young Australians walk the halls of Congress, and it is with the utmost pride that I recognize the importance of the Uni-Capitol Washington Internship Program in the United States House of Representatives. Ms. Jessica Boddington joined my office on January 3, 2011 from the University of Queensland, where she is simultaneously pursuing degrees in International Relations and in Economics. During her time in my office, Jess has proven herself to be a caring, intelligent and dedicated intern, and I am honored to host her. In addition to serving my constituents with professionalism and respect, she has attended hearings and briefings, drafted legislative correspondence and assisted my staffers with a variety of individual projects. Founded and directed by former House and Senate staffer, Eric Federing, the program fosters cultural and educational exchanges between the United States and Australia. Mr. Federing deserves distinguished praise for his efforts in coordinating this program, as well as for the support he provides to its individual participants. Outside of working in Congressional offices, the interns are given the opportunity to explore our brand of American democracy through panel discussions with political correspondents, representatives from various government offices and professionals at non-government agencies. Mr. Speaker, I cannot fully express how remarkable the Uni-Capitol Washington Internship Program is, and I once again extend my sincere appreciation to Mr. Federing for managing this program. As United States Members of Congress we have a responsibility to serve our constituents well, but also a unique opportunity to reach out to a myriad of people across the globe. As such, I would encourage all of my colleagues to open their doors to students from overseas, so that we can share our culture and democratic institutions. I ask my colleagues to join with me in recognizing the contributions of the Uni-Capitol Washington Internship Program and, again, thank Jess Boddington for her admirable participation and diligent work.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a good friend and great leader who passed away unexpectedly on November 19, 2011. His energy, intelligence, and dedication served the City of Santa Cruz since 1976, when he co-founded the Resource Center for Nonviolence. In 1991, Scott began his political career, serving on the Santa Cruz City Council from 1991 to 1998 and again from 2001-2003. He also served as the mayor of Santa Cruz in 1994 and 2004. Throughout his life, Scott demonstrated a strong commitment to his community and he will be dearly missed. I am proud to honor my friend and his service to the City of Santa Cruz and to the rest of the world. Scott was born in Nebraska on December 9, 1948, and grew up in San Jose, California. He began his advocacy for international peace while attending the University of California at Santa Cruz when as a freshman he first traveled to the Israel-Palestine region. Middle Eastern issues were at the forefront of Scott's advocacy and he led some 25 delegations to the Middle East with increasing success over three decades of involvement. Since the mid-1970s Scott attempted to amplify the voices of Israelis and Palestinians who are committed to participating in a nonviolent struggle for lasting peace. Scott's tenacity and passion provided the foundation from which the Resource Center for Nonviolence has continued to prosper to this day. His later heavy involvement with the Washington, D.C.-based group Interfaith Peace Builders only adds to his great strides toward world peace. His lifetime of humanitarian service was honored in 2010 when he received the Pfeffer Peace Prize. The Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989 was a jumping off point for Scott's local political career. Several affordable housing activists, afraid the disaster would result in a lack of affordable housing, recruited Scott to be their voice and run for city council. During his time in elected office, he worked to construct low-income housing, build a community soccer field, pass a resolution against the first Iraq war and permanently preserve several greenbelt properties on the city's perimeter. His intelligence and passion challenged and taught those who served alongside him to do their very best for Santa Cruz. Throughout all of these great achievements, Scott had the stalwart support of his loving family. He is survived by his wife and soulmate, Kristin (Kris), his two sons, Peter and Benjamin and his daughter Megan, who served in this Chamber as a Congressional House Page. His entire family actively supported his work by door-to-door canvassing and later travelling to Israel and Palestine. Scott described his family, and his wife Kris in particular, as his bedrock. The support she gave him made possible his lifelong humanitarian and political success. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the House of Representatives, I would like to extend our Nation's deepest condolences to Scott Kennedy's family for their loss. I would like to honor his great struggle for peace and his service to the City of Santa Cruz. He was a treasured Mayor, father, and husband and he will be greatly missed.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. This campaign draws attention to the impact of violence against women around the world. The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign of activism. It lasts for 16 days and starts on November 25, which is the International Day Against Violence Against Women, and ends on December 10, International Human Rights Day. The campaign highlights the links between violence against women and human rights, and stresses that this type of violence is a violation of human rights. Since 1991, over 3,700 organizations in approximately 164 countries have participated in the 16 Days of Activism campaign. Violence against women remains a serious problem both domestically and throughout the world. It has been estimated that nearly a billion women globally will be beaten, raped, mutilated or otherwise abused during their lifetimes. That is 1 in 3 women. Those statistics are extremely frightening for both men and women and are simply unacceptable. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join the call to end violence against women and girls around the world.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the long and distinguished career of Dr. Robert Curry. Dr. Curry, a prominent professor of hydrology and geology at both the University of California at Santa Cruz and California State University at Monterey Bay, has spent his entire professional life teaching generations of students how human activity can change the earth's surface. He has also spent countless hours, many without pay, working for conservation organizations on issues ranging from soil conservation, wetland preservation, water quality, to endangered species protection. Dr. Curry is truly a modern renaissance man. He has mastered many disciplines, including hydrology, geology, fluviual geomorphology, climatic history, wetland delineation, forest ecology, and geologic hazard evaluation. It is important we honor his vision, dedication, and tenacity in doing as much as humanly possible to protect the natural environment from unnecessary harm. Dr. Curry is a native Californian, raised in the Sierra Nevada area of eastern California where both sets of grandparents instilled in him a love of natural history, hiking and camping. Dr. Curry and his three younger siblings, Barbara, Judy, and Joe as well as aunts, uncles and many cousins have deep roots in the land. He ultimately completed his doctoral dissertation on the climatic history of the Sierra Nevada and his parents are now buried at high elevation in what is now a Wilderness Area. Dr. Curry studied at the undergraduate and masters level at the University of Colorado. He later earned a Ph.D in Geology and Geophysics at UC Berkeley, where he helped draft California's Forest Practices Act. Dr. Curry subsequently taught for over 45 years, beginning at UC Santa Barbara. He later served as Provost and professor at UC Santa Cruz before joining the California State University Monterey Bay faculty where he created the Watershed Science curriculum. Perhaps his most significant contribution was the cooperative authorship of Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act. In 1969, Dr. Curry served as the initial science advisor to the U.S. Senate Public Works Committee following its review of the Santa Barbara Oil Spill. Working with Senator Ed Muskie, chairman of the Air and Water Pollution Subcommittee who was drafting the National Environmental Policy Act, Dr. Curry's work lead to the clause that says if public funds are used to develop information about projects of national interest that could guide public policy, the information must be released to the public. This became the basis for the Environmental Impact Statement, which has served the public by bringing transparency to the policy process. Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for the whole House in honoring the career of this remarkable scientist and conservation leader. California, and indeed the world, are better for his efforts.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to recognize Barbara Cornett, who is retiring from her work as a member of the Monterey County Board of Education, a role she has filled with great integrity since December 2003. Mrs. Cornett's career in California public education spans six decades. She has served as a classroom teacher, school nurse, director of special education and assistant superintendent with Salinas Union High School District before retiring in 1992. A clinical nurse as well as an educator, Mrs. Cornett is respected by both the medical and educational communities for her understanding of the needs of the special education students. She earned her Bachelor of Arts at Vanderbilt University, and Master of Arts, School Administration, at San Jose State University. As a member of the Monterey County Board of Education, Mrs. Cornett served as its liaison to the Special Education Local Plan Area and the Monterey County Schools Insurance Group. Mr. Speaker, I have no doubt that the Monterey and Salinas school systems will continue to thrive because of her longstanding work. Barbara deserves our deepest gratitude and our most heartfelt wishes for a job well done.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the Balanced Budget Amendment. The purpose of Congress is to serve the American people and this Amendment is an unforgiveable disservice to our constituents. Let's look at the facts: the American people want jobs. But this amendment would destroy some 15 million jobs, double unemployment, and contract the economy by an estimated 17%. The American people want security. But this amendment requires draconian cuts to critical lifelines like Medicare, Social Security, and veterans' benefits. The American people want a future for their children. But this amendment blocks investments in education and infrastructure, elevates the risk of federal default, and as Reagan's Economic Advisor Bruce Bartlett said would unquestionably cause another recession. But here's the one thing this Amendment would do for the American people: reinforce their belief that Congress can't get anything good done. This legislative body is better than that. And it is better than this amendment, which is nothing more than political theater. And at a time of 9% unemployment and a contracted economy, there is no excuse to waste taxpayer dollars on petty political gamesmanship. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment and get down to the serious legislative business of restoring order to our fiscal house. I have joined with many of my Democratic colleagues in fighting to stabilize the economy, create jobs, and build a better future for our children and grandchildren. And I will not stop this fight until we have rebuilt our economy so that the men and women of America can get back to work.