Sam Farr

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition of the Republican Health Reform Repeal Bill. The reason is simple. The bill before us is not about creating jobs. It's not about strengthening our middle class. And it's not about reducing our national deficit. It is however, about denying coverage for up to 284,000 individuals with pre-existing conditions in my district. It is about increasing prescription drug costs for 6,400 seniors on California's Central Coast. And it is about increasing the number of uninsured individuals by 80,000 and increasing the costs to our local hospitals for providing uncompensated care. Open your eyes, and welcome to reality. American families are struggling to make ends meet. They are struggling to stay in their homes. They are living without proper health care. And are they going broke paying for medical bills. So why is this chamber spending their time debating health care reform that has extended coverage and increased protections to millions of Americans, and created 207,000 jobs in the Health Care Industry. Truth of the matter is--while we run circles around this issue, millions of Americans walk out their front door every morning to look for work, only to return with less hope and more worries. Everyday Americans across the country are worried sick about losing their homes. About not being able to adequately provide for their families. And now Republicans want them to worry about losing their health care coverage. Please open your eyes, and take a deep look at Americans' dire reality. I urge all Members to oppose the Patients' Rights Repeal Act.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight very sadly to talk a little bit about one of the greatest Americans of our generation, a true American hero, in my view, Sargent Shriver. I really have to say I am also very upset that the Republican leadership wouldn't allow for a moment of silence in today's session for such a distinguished American. I rise today in honor of his life and legacy. I got to meet Sargent Shriver when I was a Peace Corps trainee in 1963, about 22 years old in a small, little town in New Mexico, Questa, New Mexico, and I was in awe that I, as a trainee, could meet the first Director of the Peace Corps. He embodied the relentless spirit of public service that makes America great. He will forever hold a special place in our country's history. I remember just the vitality and spirit that he had that drove me to want to be a Peace Corps volunteer at a time when nobody really knew what they did because they hadn't come home yet. It was a risk, an adventure, and I was really not sure that it was the best thing to do. And yet I look back with pride and admiration and what a privilege it was to serve under his leadership. With the Peace Corps, Sargent Shriver took President Kennedy's vision of service and optimism and built it into one of America's best institutions. After 3 years as Director of the agency, the Peace Corps had more than 6,500 volunteers serving in more than 50 developing countries. He once told me the story that in those days, with the President's own budgeting, they were able to place Peace Corps volunteers in Latin America and Africa before Congress ever got around to authorizing the program. These volunteers showed the world the true American values of peace, prosperity, and opportunity that had been eclipsed by the Cold War. Over the past 50 years, through war and conflict, Sarge's foundational work of the Peace Corps has enabled volunteers to show the world a hopeful, uplifting side of America that reflects our fundamental values of service and tolerance. Today, Sarge's legacy lives on in a quarter million Americans who have served as Peace Corps volunteers in 139 countries around the world, all in the name of peace and goodwill. Beyond the Peace Corps, Sargent Shriver was actively engaged in civic society. He served as Ambassador to France; leader of the War on Poverty as the first Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity, which began the Head Start program, which began VISTA, Volunteers in Service to America; and as a Vice Presidential candidate. His touch can be found on some of our Nation's finest efforts, including the Special Olympics and racial integration. But above all, Sarge's devotion to public service was beyond reproach. Like his wife, Eunice, who really started the Special Olympics--and I might add that the Special Olympics is now in more countries than is the Peace Corps--I can't think of a married couple in America who have done more worldwide than Eunice Shriver and Sargent Shriver to help people in need. I will always hold my special memories of sharing Peace Corps stories with Sargent Shriver--or Sarge, as we called him. At various events that honored the agency, we both got to speak. And one of my most significant moments of my life was the privilege of being presented with a Peace Corps Public Service Award in 2006 by Sargent Shriver. To all who knew him, Sargent Shriver was a man of tremendous heart and vision who leaves behind a living legacy of service and hope. That legacy of public service lives on in the lives of his children. Their mother died in 2009, but today we have daughter Maria, who is the first lady of California. We have their four other children: son Robert Shriver of Santa Monica, who is an activist in California; former Maryland delegate, Mark Shriver of Bethesda, Maryland; Tim Perry Shriver of Chevy Chase--both involved in Special Olympics; and Anthony Paul Shriver of Miami. Most of all, they have 19 children. Sargent Shriver's life reminds us of the value of distinguished public service, and that it is incumbent upon all of us to renew his vision of a better America for future generations. My thoughts and prayers are with his children and grandchildren and the entire Shriver and Kennedy families. [From Vanity Fair, Jan. 19, 2011] Sargent Shriver's Lasting Impact: An Appreciation (By Maureen Orth) At a Saint Patrick's Day party at the White House during Clinton's first term, I bumped into Sargent Shriver and introduced him to my husband as ``the George Washington of the Peace Corps.'' Shriver corrected me. ``No,'' he said, holding out his arm waist high. ``George Washington was here.'' Then he raised his arm above his head and said, ``In the Peace Corps, I'm here!'' He laughed so easily and so frequently, and he had such enthusiasm and energy, that he made the idea of service pure fun. And he was right about where he stood with so many of us former Peace Corps volunteers--he was our founding father, an icon. All you had to do was utter his name--Sarge--and it immediately stood for giving your all and being your best. I was recruited into the Peace Corps at age 20, right off the Berkeley campus, by a loud southern guy with a bullhorn-- he was to become the NBC reporter Douglas Kiker (years later we met as colleagues). Sarge had the ability to bring together all sorts of talented and sometimes offbeat people, and to convince them to try something they weren't really planning to do. I served in the Peace Corps for two years in Medellin, Colombia, and have remained involved with the community. I was in Medellin last week to help set up a third school for poor kids that is run by a foundation I created several years ago to provide students at all three schools with computers and training in English and leadership. It is a way for me to continue the work I did in the Peace Corps, and I thank Sarge for giving me the means to get along in exotic places, to speak Spanish, and to be a much better journalist, because I learned in the Peace Corps how to observe acutely and to understand issues from other people's points of view. Sarge was both brilliant and selfless--too selfless, some might argue, when it came to his own political career. His parents were Catholic intellectuals from aristocratic Maryland stock. They lost their money during the Depression and ended up running a Catholic bookstore where the ideas of social activists such as Sarge's heroine, Dorothy Day, were profoundly influential. Sarge managed to go to Yale for both his undergraduate and law degrees, but he was often like the proverbial kid with his nose pressed against the candy-store window--although he was drop-dead handsome, everybody else had a lot more goodies. After serving heroically in World War II as a naval gunnery officer--he was a deadly marksman whose ship, in one Pacific battle, shot down 32 Japanese planes in three hours--Sarge dropped law to become an assistant editor at Newsweek. During that job he met Joe Kennedy, who asked him to run ``this building I just bought in Chicago''--it was the Merchandise Mart, the largest commercial building in the world at the time. By then he had met the forceful Eunice Kennedy, one of Joe's nine children, by whom he had been immediately smitten, but she gave him a hard time for years before they finally married, in 1953. There wasn't a tough job that Sarge did not do well. When John F. Kennedy asked him to run the Peace Corps, he joked that J.F.K. had no choice but to give the job to a brother- in-law due to its enormous potential for failure. A few years later, Jacqueline Kennedy asked Sarge to arrange her husband's funeral, and he did so flawlessly. After heading the Chicago school board and becoming a leading civil-rights advocate, he was frequently mentioned as both an Illinois gubernatorial and senate candidate. In 1964, Lyndon Johnson very much wanted Sarge to be his running mate, but the Kennedys said absolutely not--it was Bobby's turn first. Then it was Teddy's turn. Sarge loved running the very popular Peace Corps, but he reluctantly quit when L.B.J. twisted his arm to head the War on Poverty. Democrat George McGovern turned to Sarge to run with him as vice president, in 1972, after Tom Eagleton dropped out when it was revealed that he had undergone psychiatric treatment, but they lost big-time. Sarge also served as ambassador to France, and in the last decades of his life he and Eunice founded the Special Olympics and made it a worldwide force for the intellectually disabled. He was the kind of husband who seriously thought his wife should be canonized by the Catholic Church; Sarge himself was so devout that even as he was ravaged by Alzheimer's in his later years, the two things he never forgot were his prayers and his manners. ``You're a good looking kid,'' he said to my son a few years ago as he stuck out his hand in greeting. ``Are you my son?'' I loved spending time with Sarge--he was a wonderful father to Bobby, Maria, Tim, Mark, and Anthony Shriver, all of whom have distinguished themselves in service to others. For years they had to share him with thousands of Peace Corps volunteers for whom he was both a touchstone and an idealized father figure. It is hard to believe that today we can no longer have Sarge among us, exhorting us to ``serve, serve, serve!''

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, oh sister how I have cried, prayed, and listened to stories about you. I am so sorry for your pain of losses, and your pain through your recovery. But I am, at the same time, so proud of you and delighted you are alive. For all the wrong reasons, today the world rightfully knows what a remarkable person you are. They know how fortunate our country has been to have you in public service. You still haven't stopped serving, because your injured life has given hope to millions that you will recover--and that those with like kinds of injuries may also have a chance. You are a national role model for public service-brave, kind, friendly, accessible and effective. While praying for your life I recalled every conversation we had and each photo I have taken of you and Mark. I remember when you were first elected in your great class of freshman. I was so proud to meet the woman that took Jim Kolbe's place. You had been a Fulbright Scholar in Mexico. We talked about your student life there and my similar age experience of being in Peace Corps in South America--how we had parallel experiences serving in the Arizona and California legislatures. Starting with that first conversation, we both knew we were like brother and sister in a large body of Congress. Over the years I grew amazed at how hard you worked, and it made me wonder if you ever had time for yourself. Obviously meeting and marrying Mark, an admired astronaut, gave you an added value to life. This might be why you always came to work so happy. I pray that you never lose your happiness, as it always lightens up the room for others. But I do worry about how tough your district has made your campaign demands, and thus on your personal life. Your recovery keeps me smiling, after the tears of tragedy, to watch you--once again--show me--while sitting in the Chamber--the marred of politicians on your Blackberry. Gabby you are the only member that has the full schedule of NASA launches and landings at your finger tips. This is just another example of how clever you are in application of technology to political life style. So today our colleagues stand in the Chamber to salute you, to mourn the loss of other wonderful people, and to begin the dialogue on what we have learned from your tragic encounters. I hope that we can learn and honor the victims, with smarter gun control and better funding for mental health treatment. And I hope we can develop a better understanding that hate talk and negative campaigning leaves the wrong impression for young people growing up in our society. A democracy based on negative talk can not survive. I pray that you fully recover. I lost my 17-year-old sister from a horse accident, while she was visiting me in Colombia during my time with the Peace Corps. It was just months after my mother had died of cancer. My sister Nancy died because of the lack of medical care available in the rural hospital. So I am extremely relieved that the availability of good medical science and a rapid response saved your life. We all look forward to seeing you back on the floor of the House of Representatives. You have always been the spirit of public service, and will continue to be forever more. God bless you Gabrielle Giffords.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a young, brave soldier who was killed in Afghanistan on Sunday, December 19, 2010. Private First Class Conrado Javier Jr. of Marina, California was only nineteen years old. It is with a heavy heart that I wish to offer my sincere condolences to the family of Conrado Javier Jr. Private First Class Conrado Javier Jr. served in the United States Army and was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment based in Vilseck, Germany. He was serving a tour in Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. On Sunday, December 19, 2010, in the Kandahar province of Afghanistan, the vehicle he driving in struck an improvised explosive device. Pfc. Javier was unable to recover from his wounds sustained in the deadly explosion. Conrado Javier Jr. is the fifth service member from my district to pay the ultimate sacrifice while defending our country in Operation Enduring Freedom. Sadly, he is the youngest service member from my district to lose his life in Afghanistan. There are no words that can fill the far reaching potential of this young man. However, I have no doubt he touched many lives during his very short time on Earth and his life will continue through them. Conrado attended Seaside High School and was a member of the school's Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. It is evident he was dedicated to serving his country and possessed the strengths of a leader. Some may say his strongest value was being a loyal friend, who put others before him. Madam Speaker, I rise today and ask for my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of Conrado Javier Jr. I extend the sincere condolences of the House to his mother, Julia Dominga Javier Diaz; his father, Conrado Javier; and the seven siblings he leaves behind. Private Javier, we salute you!

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 81, The Shark Conservation Act of 2010. I am pleased that the Senate has taken up and passed this bill with so little time left in the 111th Congress, and I urge my colleagues to follow suit and vote ``yes'' to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 81 so that we can send this important piece of legislation to the President's desk. This bill seeks to adopt important and necessary conservation measures for sharks. Specifically, and perhaps most importantly, the bill amends the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act to prohibit shark-finning. Shark-finning is the removal of any fins of a shark (including the tail), and discarding the carcass of the shark at sea. The practice has egregious effects on shark populations worldwide and the fins remain in high demand for use in ``shark fin soup''--an Asian delicacy. It is estimated that 73 million sharks are killed each year as a result of shark-finning. In short, this practice takes a tremendous toll on shark populations. In addition, many shark species are threatened or endangered, making the conservation measures set forth by this bill timely and necessary. Sharks are one of the top predators in our oceans, and a loss in their population would lead to permanent and detrimental effects on the entire marine environment. The loss of top predators in the marine environment upsets the balance of our oceans, causing severe and sometimes irreversible consequences. We take so much from our ocean, and yet give nothing back. Protecting and conserving its depleting resources should be a top priority because before long there will be nothing left to take. For these reasons I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the Senate Amendment to H.R. 81.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I would first like to thank Chairman Waxman and Chairman Dingell for drafting a very strong food safety bill and leading a comprehensive debate by the House. Their legislation included three vital components that are all founded on a strong scientific base. I also want to commend them for including the teeth we need to implement mandatory recalls, as well as a commodity-specific approach to produce safety. Also important, the bill incorporated the flexibility we need to cover our growers, handlers, and processors. Yet the Senate bill we will be voting on today, The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, fails to meet that high bar set by the original House bill. Because the version that is now before us has abandoned its original scientific base, I must sadly oppose this legislation. Let me be clear: I understand the need for food safety reform all too well. The safety of America's supply of fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts will always be my highest priority. I know firsthand the impact an outbreak can have on an industry, and for that reason, understand the strong need for far reaching regulations based on the best science available. The Center for Disease Control estimates, released December 15th, state that 48 million people in America--that's 1 in every 6--get sick every year from contaminated food. Furthermore, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die being exposed to this contaminated food. These are staggering numbers considering the United States still has the safest food supply in the world. I also know each time any fruit or vegetable is implicated in an outbreak of food borne illness, the industry as a whole suffers from devastating loses in consumer confidence. In the long run, this is simply not sustainable, and it's certainly not acceptable for growers or consumers. At the very least, our nation needs a minimum food safety standard that applies to every producer. And we need to help all growers small or large, comply with the regulations that will be promulgated from this legislation. Anything less falls short of true food safety reform, and could be a dangerous disservice to the American public. The region I represent, California's Central Coast, is the top producing specialty crop region in the world. As such, I am proud to say that food safety is our region's industry's top priority. The men and women who grow, pack, and market fresh produce are committed to providing consumers with safe and wholesome foods from field to fork. Our local industry is constantly working to enhance and improve their performance in growing crops, harvesting and handling for distribution, packaging and processing into convenient ready-to-eat products. In addition to following all protocols to maintain the safest possible delivery chain--all the way to the consumer's table. Mr. Speaker, Food Safety knows no price point--Salmonella, e. Coli and Listeria don't care if the food is grown conventionally or organically--or if the produce is grown on a large ranch or small farm. That's why provisions in this bill that exempt small producers from oversight are simply unacceptable and dangerous. We need policy based on sound science, and exempting certain sectors of the industry is not sound policy. Instead, we should be providing those small producers with the tools and incentives they need to meet the food safety standards we are voting on today. Food producers are dedicated to continuously improving on-farm food safety practices--inclusion of exemptions from food safety laws is a huge step backward, and will send the wrong message to the food industry. Even worse, it will send the wrong message to the American consumer. Congress needs to understand--just as my growers understand--that any fruit or vegetable implicated in an outbreak taints the entire agricultural industry. And those isolated instances are cumulative. If we allow small producers to avoid oversight, the outbreaks that are likely to occur will result in the harm of all growers, handlers, processors, and shippers. I'm committed to ensuring that when food safety regulation does come to fruition, it is developed and implemented with industry input. And that it provides pragmatic food safety guidelines that are both feasible and effective for growers, processors, handlers, and consumers. Mr. Speaker, this legislation does offer a step forward, but be certain that today we could have taken a leap forward. I look forward to working with my colleagues, constituents and the agencies to developing meaningful scientifically based food safety standards. But unfortunately, I can not support this bill as it is presented to us from the Senate.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the remarkable public service career of Darlene Dunham. Darlene is retiring from her work in Monterey County as the chief of Staff for County Supervisor Simon Salinas. However, she has had a long path of education and leadership before going to work for the County of Monterey. Of historical interest, Darlene was one of the top 16 money winners on the old television game show The Joker's Wild. Darlene returned to college after having two children, Troy and Denyse. In 1983, she opened her own political consulting and training firm named Darlene Dunham and Associates. By 1998, she had expanded her business by 3 partners and focused on management training and consulting to the agricultural community. She finally received her Masters degree in Leadership at the age of 57. Darlene spent a decade working in state and local political campaigns as a fundraiser and campaign consultant for now famous Willie Brown, former Speaker of the California Assembly, and former state legislators, now Members of Congress, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Xavier Becerra, Jim Costa, Maxine Waters, Diane Watson, and myself. While serving as chair of the Monterey County Commission on the Status of Women, Darlene led the first sexual harassment training course for county employees and was one of the first persons certified by the California State Bar Association to train public and private sector personnel including California prison guards. Along with running her business, Darlene found time to get involved in the community. Darlene has served on the Monterey County Arts Council, she has volunteered with the Salinas Women's Crisis Center, she served as a representative on the Hartnell College Board of Trustees, Vice Chair of the City of Salinas Recreation-Park Commission, and a board member of the Education Foundation for Salinas Union High School District. She was recognized as one of the outstanding women of Monterey County's Commission on the Status of Women. The Salinas Chamber of Commerce gave Darlene their Athena Award for outstanding businesswoman. Darlene's passion and leadership led her to organize a trip to Morelia, Mexico to provide an opportunity for a group of Elementary School teachers to study the Spanish language and the Mexican culture. Darlene notes that she is looking forward to being retired so she can return to traveling the world with her husband and enjoying her grandchildren Emma, age 4, and Truman, age 1\1/2\. Madam Speaker, I know that I am not alone in recognizing the work of this amazing woman. Darlene has always been involved in the community and her dedication to make Monterey County a better place will surely continue, even after she retires. For all that she has done and all that she will undoubtedly do, I extend my most sincere thanks and warmest wishes to our friend and professional colleague, Ms. Darlene Dunham.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Wake up and listen to the sirens, the sirens of the election that were about the deficit in America, and you want to add $1 trillion to that deficit. Wake up and listen to the sirens of the people who are needing of help. I can't believe that you talk about this bill as fiscal sanity. It's fiscal insanity, putting us in another trillion dollars of debt, and with this concept of, if you give the rich more money, it will trickle down. Well, those sirens that are responding to the children that are in need of health care, to the people who need to be rescued, aren't paid for by trickle-down economics. The rich never pay for that. There isn't an ambulance in the country that's paid for by the rich. There isn't a soldier that's paid for by the rich. There isn't a schoolteacher in a public school paid for by the rich. That doesn't happen. Your putting our country into debt is what Admiral Mullen said is the biggest issue in national security. It's what the debt commission said we couldn't do. There's nothing in this bill that's fiscal sanity. It's insanity. We fixed this debt by closing these tax loopholes, and now you want to give them away. Shame on you. Announcement by the Acting Chair

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I believe that we must advance a negotiated peace process in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, I have concerns that H. Res. 1765 only addresses one of the issues that is impeding lasting peace in the region. For the United States to be an honest, effective broker of peace, we must take into account the roles that all parties play in the conflict. Particularly now, as we try to rebuild the potential for direct talks, we must weigh our actions based on how effectively they will advance the likelihood of all parties coming to the negotiating table. I strongly support American diplomatic efforts to mediate a two-state solution, and I believe we must direct our efforts towards balanced measures that lay the strongest possible foundation for a peaceful resolution.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of United States Army Staff Sergeant Vincent Wayne Ashlock, who died on December 4, 2010, while serving in Khost Province, Afghanistan. Wayne, as he was known to his family and friends, was a loving father, husband, brother, and son who devoted his life in equal measures to his family and our nation. Public service was his calling, and while his death leaves a void in the lives of his family, friends, and comrades, Staff Sergeant Ashlock's patriotism, loyalty, and love, will remain an example to all who had the privilege to know him. Wayne was born in San Jose, California on May 10, 1965. He grew up in the small farming and military town of Merced in the heart of California's San Joaquin Valley. He enjoyed a small town childhood surrounded by brothers and sisters playing little league baseball and exploring Bear Creek. Wayne began his military career by enlisting in the Army at age eighteen. He served for ten years on active duty before leaving the Army for civilian life. Following the 9/11 attack, his sense of duty and patriotism led Wayne to enlist in the California National Guard. As a Guardsman, Wayne deployed to Iraq, where he drew on his military experience to help train Ugandan troops. He later sought deployment to Afghanistan. To accomplish this, he transferred from the California National Guard, which had no immenant Afghanistan deployments scheduled, to the Mississippi National Guard which did. Once in there, Wayne served with the 287th Engineer Co., 176 Engineer Bde., 101st Airborne Div. (Air Assault). His unit was assigned to help clear homemade bombs and discover ambushes in front of other units. During his military service, Wayne earned many awards and commendations, among them the Army Commendation Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a Bronze Service Star, and the Iraq Campaign Medal with a Bronze Service Star. Wayne is survived by his wife, Angela, and five children, Kali, Jesse, Steven, Erica and Christopher, two grandchildren, Addison and Brady, brothers Ryan, Lonnie, and sister Dawn, his mother Margot, and grandmother Bonnie. Madam Speaker, I know I speak for the whole House in expressing our heartfelt condolences to Staff Sergeant Ashlock's family. Their loss is our nation's loss. Their pain is our nation's pain. Public service was his calling, and while his death leaves a void in the lives of his family, friends, and comrades, Staff Sergeant Ashlock's patriotism, loyalty, and love, will remain an example to all who had the privilege to know him.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Robert G. Gard, Jr. and his spouse Dr. Janet Wall of Monterey, California, as the Philanthropists of the Year chosen by the Monterey Institute for International Studies for their commitment to enriching the lives of the Institute's scholars. Retiring after 31 years in the United States Army, Dr. Gard became President of the Monterey Institute for International Studies. He has been awarded the Defense Distinguished Flying Cross and the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, and the Bronze Star. Dr. Robert Gard has served our country proudly and it is with great enthusiasm that he continues to contribute to the community. Dr. Janet Wall, an author and expert on career development and educational review continues to donate her skills to the Institute's Yellow Ribbon program, which offers scholarships and career advice to returned military veterans. Her kindness and guidance has led many veterans to graduate from the Institute and attain successful careers. Dr. Gard and Dr. Wall established the Gard `n' Wall Scholarship in Nonproliferation Studies to assist ambitious candidates to excel in the field of Nonproliferation Studies. The esteemed couple has also donated generously to the Robert Gard Scholarship, set up by the Institute to honor the work of Dr. Gard. I am proud to be a part of honoring Drs. Gard and Wall and that I am able to associate myself with the Monterey Institute of International Studies. Madam Speaker, it is a tremendous honor to recognize Dr. Robert Gard and Dr. Janet Wall for their continued support of the Monterey Institute for International Studies. The Institution is a jewel of higher education on the Central Coast and I offer my sincerest congratulations to this accomplished couple.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Philip Mark Coniglio, Sr. who recently passed away at the age of 85. I am honored that I have this opportunity to recognize this great man as a prominent community businessman and a wonderful friend. Philip was born and raised in Monterey, California. He attended Monterey High School and Hartnell College. After serving in the Army from 1943 to 1945, Philip worked with his uncles growing grapes. This led Philip to take an interest in grapes and thus, the wine industry. He owned and operated Mediterranean Market for 41 years which was known as a landmark for gourmet food and wines. Philip was heavily involved in the community; he was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Italian Catholic Federation, Paisano, Sierra Club, and the Compare Club. He also maintained a long-standing tradition of entertaining and cooking dinner for family and friends on Sundays. I will always remember Philip as a traveler. He had been around the world several times and frequently visited the big island of Hawaii. Philip is survived by his wife of 59 years, Carla Lepori-Pacini Coniglio; his daughter Cara Mia Coniglio and granddaughter, Tiana Marie Lagemann; daughter, Lisa Paula Kaufmann and son-in-law, Mark Kaufmann and grandsons, Michael Colin and Patrick Joseph Kaufmann; son, Philip Coniglio Jr., and daughter-in-law Star Bullock Coniglio and granddaughter Margaux Isabella Coniglio; and his brother, Peter Coniglio. Madam Speaker, Philip Mark Coniglio, Sr. touched the lives of many people in the community. He will be missed and I know I speak for the whole House in honoring the life of this dedicated and loving man.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise to remember the life Dr. Dick B. ``Coach'' Lawitzke, who passed away at the age of 84. I am honored to recognize this great man who lived his life helping others. Dick graduated from Humboldt State College in 1950. Shortly after, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and married his college sweetheart, Millicent. They soon named the beautiful Monterey Peninsula home. He became Superintendent, Principal, teacher, and bus driver of Carmelo Elementary School from 1956 to 1958. Dick was also a sports enthusiast which is why many remember him simply as ``Coach''. He was Athletic Director at Carmel High School and coached championship teams in basketball and football. I believe that every community needs a person like Dick; he was always involved in programs positively influencing kids and adamant about adult education. We were close and remained in close contact until recently. Dick leaves his wife, Millicent; children Loree Burroughs, Amy Consul, and Milton ``Mo'' Lawitzke; grandchildren Travis Fluegge, Edward Lee Lawitzke, Cayden and Ian Burroughs, and Margo and Nina Consul. Madam Speaker, I know that the Carmel area community will continue to benefit from the work that Dick ``Coach'' Lawitzke did and that he is a shining example to those who were inspired to continue his work.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, since I became a Member of Congress, I have always been unwavering in my commitment to repeal the discriminatory Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. At a time when our military is already stretched to the breaking point and standards are being lowered to increase recruitment numbers, it is outrageous that thousands of highly skilled soldiers, like Arab linguists, have been forced out of uniform because of their sexual orientation. These gay men and women only want to serve their country with honor. Changing a social institution is not easy, but President Truman persevered and ended racial discrimination in the military in 1948. Women were accepted into the military in the 1970s, and they now make up 20% of our Armed Forces. Congress rescinded the female combat exemption laws in 1996 and our military personnel, both men and women, are universally acknowledged as the best in the world. Mr. Speaker, our Armed Forces are resilient and adaptive and will embrace Open Service as they have successfully embraced other social changes it in the past. Repealing this policy is long overdue and will finally allow gays and lesbians to serve their country honorably without fear of being discriminated against by the very Nation they fight to protect.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a model public servant who dedicated his life to the betterment of the Pajaro Valley on California's central coast. Tony Campos, a native of the Pajaro Valley, has served his community as a city councilmember, a mayor, and a county supervisor since 1987. His leadership and dedication has resulted in many successes. Moreover, his loyalty and compassion made him a dear friend to me and many others. Tony was born and raised in the Pajaro Valley, graduated from Watsonville High School and attended Cabrillo College. He spent fourteen years working in the sprawling agricultural fields with his father. From this strong foundation, Tony sought to continue his success by becoming a small-business owner. However, the biggest success in his life came in March of 1977 when he married Becky Tegenkamp. In 1987, Tony was elected as to the Watsonville City Council. He was the first Latino elected to the City Council since the city's incorporation in 1868. Two years later, he demonstrated exemplary leadership in the Loma Prieta earthquake and its aftermath. As Mayor of Watsonville, Tony led the city through one of its worst natural disasters when the Pajaro River overflowed, flooding large portions of the Pajaro Valley. In June of 1998, Tony became the first Latino elected to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors since 1853. For twelve years, he fought tirelessly to improve social and health services in the county. Moreover, as Chairman of the Board, Tony has brought further attention to the needs of seniors, Latinos, young people, and farm workers. Recently, Tony accomplished his goal of equal access to the courts and other government services by playing an instrumental role in the construction of the new Watsonville Civic Center. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize this community leader and to applaud him for his tenure on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors. As Tony begins the next chapter of his life, he will continue to be a strong advocate for the Pajaro Valley and the Central Coast. I wish my friend and his lovely wife all the best in their future endeavors.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Pat Loe, on the occasion of her retirement from the San Benito County Board of Supervisors. It has been a pleasure working with Pat on various projects and she will be missed by many. Pat is a lifelong resident of San Benito County. Prior to her service on the San Benito County Board of Supervisors, she worked for Tiffany Motor Company for 34 years. Pat first began her career in politics when she was appointed to the San Benito County Planning Commission where she served for 10 years. Her leadership on the Commission prepared her to run for a seat on the Hollister City Council. Pat served on the council for four years and made some momentous advancements for women. She became the first woman to break the glass ceiling and serve as Mayor for the City of Hollister allowing many other councilwomen to follow suit. On March 5, 2002, Pat was elected to the San Benito County Board of Supervisors, District 3. The County district seat is unique, wholly within an urban area, geographically in central Hollister, defined by its established homes, and its population is dominated by longtime Hollister residents. Pat was reelected on June 6, 2006 to serve a second term of four years. She was Chair of the San Benito County Supervisors in 2006 and also served as Vice-Chair in 2010. Pat served on various committees including the Council of Governments, Local Agency Formation Commission, Veterans Park Commission, Children and Families First Commission, Community Action Board, Intergovernmental Committee, Juvenile Justice Commission, Local Task Force, Behavioral Health Board, Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control, Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments, City Revolving Loan Fund Committee, Gang Prevention Task Force, and National Association of Counties. She also served on various sub-committees: Community Development Block Grants, Ethics, Library Vision Committee, Governance, Redevelopment, Agency Revolving Loan Fund Board, and New Courthouse Project. She also served on other community organizations such as the Homeless Task Force, Emmaus House and Relay for Life. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the House of Representatives, I would like to extend our Nation's deepest gratitude to Pat Loe for all of her years of service. I wish her well and hope she enjoys the time with her family and friends. This is not a goodbye for I know that Pat will continue to serve the County of San Benito on other capacities. Pat clearly loves the County of San Benito, and she's changed it, for the better--with her unique brand of gentle persistence.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Thank you very much for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill but with real dismay. First, it is ludicrous that Congress continues to pass the SGR instead of to fix it once and for all. This bill, though necessary, doesn't fix what is broken, and we will just find ourselves back here again next year, trying to find a way forward. It is time to ``repeal and replace'' the doctor payment formula and to come up with something new. Second, this bill contains special ``pork'' favors for certain Midwest Senators which will pay their doctors more than the doctors in other parts of the country--in particular, my State of California. Section 103 of this bill provides an arbitrary ``floor'' for certain doctors' payments in Iowa and in other Midwest States that will boost their Medicare reimbursements, but this provision does not extend to all doctors in the United States. Iowa will get an additional $17 million in FY 2011, on top of regular Medicare reimbursements, which other States will not get. Over the 2-year cycle of FY 2010-2011, Iowa doctors will be reimbursed over $34 million because of this special ``floor'' in payments inserted by Senator Grassley and by others in that body. In a bill that is supposed to be ``clean'' and that is supposed to simply advance a moratorium on reductions in the sustained growth rate, section 103 is an abomination. It is plain unfair to doctors in other States. My doctors in California and especially in my district have suffered for more than a decade under a misaligned doctor payment formula due to outdated geographic locality designations. Despite numerous government reports by the GAO and CMS and despite numerous times that the House has passed legislation to fix this problem, the Senate has refused to accept the fix in favor of tipping the scales in order to satisfy Senator Grassley's whims. If Congress really wants to do right by doctors, it needs to do right by all doctors. This bill does not do that.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to rise before you as a former Peace Corps volunteer, both the Speaker and myself, who know something about living in another country. Look, we are in the Chamber of the House of Representatives. We have been here every day. We have these debates. Surrounding us every day, we look at these lawgivers, 23 people, all men. Only two have ever been American citizens. All the rest, we worship them, because they had great minds. Most of them lived before the United States was even created. Those minds are in the children in America, and you are calling them illegal? Is that what you call bright children of your own? You want to raise people in that kind of climate? These kids have done nothing wrong. All they want is to fill that dream, that dream, with all kinds of restrictions that are in this bill. This ain't easy. My God, give those children, your children, our children, that dream. I rise today in strong support of the DREAM Act. Bottom line: The DREAM Act is good for America. It is good for the economy and it is good for the future competitiveness of our country. According to Secretary Gates, ``The expansion of the pool of eligible youth that would result from the DREAM Act provides an important opportunity to selectively manage against the highest qualification standards.'' General Colin Powell says the DREAM Act is important because it invests in education and expands educational opportunities for minority students. I believe that a well-educated population raises the standard of living for all Americans. Immigrant children brought here illegally through no fault of their own deserve the opportunity to chase the American Dream. America is still the land of opportunity, and education is the portal for achieving opportunity. It is vitally important that all students, including undocumented students with good character who are long-term U.S. residents, have the same chance to pursue higher educational opportunities, be eligible for in-state tuition assistance, and earn legal status. This is a good bill. I am a co-sponsor of this bill and I urge that my colleagues support its passage in the 111th Congress.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Reb Monaco, a model public servant on the occasion of his retirement from the San Benito County Board of Supervisors. I have had great pleasure in working with Reb. I am proud to honor my friend and thank him for his service. Reb is a second generation Californian. He grew up in Santa Clara County. He graduated from Santa Clara High School and went on to pursue an undergraduate degree from San Jose State University. He also holds a Masters Degree from the University of California Santa Cruz. In 1968, Reb decided to settle in San Benito County and began his career in public education. He taught grades 6th, 7th, and 8th to special education students in the Hollister School District for 32 years. He also served as adjunct faculty at Gavilan Community College for 14 years teaching health education to college students. While Reb retired from teaching he still had no desire to stop working. Instead he ventured into a new career in politics. He ran for County Supervisor and was successfully elected to the San Benito County Board, District 4 on November 5, 2002. Reb was subsequently re-elected to serve a second term in 2006. During his tenure he served as Chairman of the Board in 2005 and 2010. He has also served on various committees during the past 8 years including, County Supervisors Associations of California, Local Agency Formation Commission, Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District and the Veteran's Park Commission. He also served on the Hollister Hills Advisory Committee, National Association of Counties and the following sub-committees: New County Courthouse Project Advisory Group, Courthouse Security Project, In Home Support Services Negotiations, Budget, General Plan Element-Economic Development, Southside Building Use, Juvenile Justice Commission, and the Redevelopment Agency Revolving Loan Fund Board, to name a few. It has been a pleasure working with Reb on legislation to elevate the Pinnacles National Monument into a full fledged national park. Reb has been the Godfather behind the proposal and every time I see him he reminds me of the work that must be done. Reb has personal connections to the lands in the Pinnacles area and understands the economic development that the park will bring to the region. I admire his tenacity and persistence to continue to push for a Pinnacles National Park. Reb was a founding member of the California Blacksmith Association, which is composed of diverse group of men and women who have a common interest in working on hot iron metal. The group is dedicated to keeping the art and tradition of blacksmithing alive. Reb is also a 32 Mason one of the highest honors for this national an international freemasonry organization. Reb has many other hobbies and I hope he uses this time to indulge in those things that he likes the most. I know that his wife Jill, two children and grandson are all looking forward to spending more family time together. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the House of Representatives, I would like to extend our nation's deepest gratitude to Reb Monaco for all of his years of service. He is retiring from the board but I know that he will continue to be involved in the community in other capacities.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Lancelot McClair, who recently passed away at the age of 68 following a long illness. Lance was born in Arkansas and moved to Seaside at the age of 9. He joined the Navy during the Vietnam War and served on a submarine. On returning home he studied law at Monterey Peninsula College and received his Masters Degree from Golden Gate University. He trained as a police officer and joined the Public Defender's Office as an investigator. In 1982, he was elected Mayor of Seaside, California. At thirty-nine years old at the time, he was the youngest mayor in the city's history. Lance served as Mayor until 1994, his twelve year tenure setting another record. During that time, Seaside was hit hard by recession, followed by the closure of neighboring Fort Ord, at the time the Army's largest base and home to over 35,000 soldiers and civilians. He worked hard for his city's economic development and promoted tourism. After his time as Mayor, Lance continued to be involved in local politics, working to strengthen Seaside's position in the county. He made an unsuccessful run for Congress, and later for County Supervisor. Madam Speaker, Lance McClair is remembered by all as first and foremost a fighter for his city. I know I speak for every Member of Congress in offering our condolences to his wife, Earlene; his mother, Chester Viola McClair; two sons, Todd and R. Vance; daughter, Gigi Stephens; and his many friends upon this great loss.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I would like to, first of all, praise the grandmother leadership of Speaker Pelosi and the leader of the committee, George Miller. There are no two legislators in the history of the United States Congress who have done more for children than Nancy Pelosi and George Miller, and I am really proud to come down and support the bill that they are supporting. Look, the largest cost to the United States Government is health care. It's a no-brainer that, if you want to cut the costs of government, you have got to invest in wellness. The biggest investment in wellness is children. We can't just be concerned with what we are putting in their minds without being equally concerned with what we are putting in their stomachs. You can't grow a healthy America without nutrition, and we have paid little attention to it. This bill is the start--it is the beginning--of better wellness in America and of healthier kids with healthier minds so that we can grow to be a competitive country and a healthy country and can bring down the costs of government. For you who are opposing this bill, it's nonsensical. It's one of those issues where you raise the cost of everything but have no understanding of the value of what you are trying to defeat. The value is a healthier America. That brings down costs. It is important that we get fresh grown vegetables and fresh grown fruit into our classrooms and get away from all of this processed stuff. Obesity is a huge problem in America. Kids can't qualify to get into the military. Diabetes, which is one of the fastest growing diseases, can be prevented, and it starts with this. It starts with this. This is a good bill. We ought to all support it just like all the Senators have supported it. Announcement By the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Curtis J. Hill, a model public servant who is retiring from the position of San Benito County Sheriff/Coroner after a thirty-four year career in law enforcement. Over the course of my tenure in the House of Representatives, I have had the great pleasure of working with Curtis. I have come to value his professionalism and admire his steady counsel on public safety matters. I am proud to honor and thank him for his service. Curtis was born in Ankara, Turkey. He lived in Germany, Southern California and in Texas before he settled in San Benito County. Curtis holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology from California State University Fresno. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy, a professional course of study for U.S. and international law enforcement leaders that serves to improve the administration of justice in police departments and agencies at home and abroad, which raises law enforcement standards, knowledge, and cooperation worldwide. Curtis began his career with the San Benito County Sheriff's Office in 1976, working in the Patrol, Training, Civil, Corrections, Coroner and Investigations Divisions. He became a court expert, testifying on problems surrounding illegal drug production. Curtis also became the first Fingerprint Examiner for the Sheriff's Department and gave expert testimony in various high profile court cases. In 1988 he was appointed Undersheriff, by Sheriff Harvey S. Nylan and held the position for ten years. In January 1999, he was elected as Sheriff/Coroner and was reelected to his third term in 2006. Curtis is the current president of the California State Sheriffs' Association and is the past President of the California State Coroner's Association. He is a past member of the Corrections Standards Authority. At the federal level, Curtis sits on the Health and Human Services Organ Donation Leadership Coordinating Counsel, and is a tireless advocate for saving lives through organ donation. He has been appointed to the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission and is a strong supporter of prevention and intervention activities for youth. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the House of Representatives, I would like to extend our nation's deepest gratitude to Sheriff Curtis Hill's thirty-four years of service in law enforcement. He was a great Sheriff/Coroner and he will continue to be a strong community leader, loving husband to wife Ellen and proud father of son Kevin.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the remarkable public service career of Dianne Church. After forty-two years with the Federal Government, Dianne is retiring from her position as an Economic Development Administration, EDA, regional representative. Over the course of the past eighteen years, Dianne has played an instrumental role in helping the communities of the Monterey Bay Area recover from earthquake, flood, recession, and the largest military base closure in U.S. history. During that time, I have had the great fortune of working with Dianne and developing a wonderful working friendship with her. So it is with particular pleasure that I join my colleagues on the floor of the House today to recognize Dianne's work to make my constituents' corner of the world a better place. Dianne was born on April 22, 1944, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to Francis and Violet Church. She attended local public schools, discovered a love for music through her church choir, and spent summers with her family at the beach on the North Carolina's Outer Banks. She later attended the George Washington University in Washington, D.C., While in Washington, D.C. she began a ten year career on Capitol Hill, working for a number of distinguished lawmakers, including: Rep. Floyd Hicks (WA), Sen. Mike Gravel (AK), Rep. Don Young (AK), Rep. John Conyers (MI), and the Senate Labor Committee. She helped staff Senator Gravel when he read the Pentagon Papers on television and met Daniel Ellsberg. In 1977, Dianne left Capitol Hill to go to work in the EDA Congressional Liaison office. In 1980, she took a job as a public works project officer in EDA's Seattle Regional Office. Dianne quickly gained a reputation for volunteering for projects in the most remote and out of the way places, especially in Alaska. During those early years in Seattle, Dianne completed her B.A. degree at Western Washington University and later an MPA degree at Seattle University, taking classes at night while working full time for EDA. While working in Seattle, she met Steve Johnston, a fellow EDA employee. Dianne and Steve married in 1987. In 1997, she began the best job of her career as EDA's economic development representative for California's Central Coast. She initially represented fourteen Central California counties, including the Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito Counties that form the core of my district. She had already been working on the redevelopment of Fort Ord following its 1994 closure. In all, Dianne helped steer over $95 million towards infrastructure and other key redevelopment needs, including over $60 million for the creation of a new California State University in the heart of Fort Ord. Madam Speaker, I know I speak for the whole House in honoring Dianne Church for her years of visionary public service. At a time when it is fashionable to cast doubt on the federal role in economic development, Dianne's legacy of roads, buildings, revitalized downtowns, a whole new university, and all the jobs to build and fill them, bears witness to the vital role that our collective investment in civilization can play.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to the continued religious persecution by the Government of Iran towards the Baha'i community. As many of my House colleagues know, in the spring of 2008, Iranian authorities arrested and imprisoned Mrs. Fariba Kamalabadi, Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, Mr. Afif Naeimi, Mr. Saeid Rezaie, Mr. Behrouz Tavakkoli, Mrs. Mahvash Sabet, and Mr. Vahid Tizfahm, members of the Baha'i community's coordinating body in Iran. These two women and five men were imprisoned for twenty months without charge. In August of 2010, after several months of closed-door hearings, they were sentenced to 20 years in prison. That sentence was reduced to 10 years in September. Madam Speaker, these seven leaders were targeted solely because of their religion. This form of discrimination is absolutely unacceptable. As Iran is party to the International Covenants on Human Rights, I call on the Government of Iran to fulfill their commitment to the international community and immediately release these seven individuals and all other prisoners held solely on account of their religion.

Mr. FARR

Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Salud Para La Gente on its thirty years of service to the community as a community health clinic, providing high quality, comprehensive and cost-effective health care services to low-income communities of the Monterey Bay Area. Salud Para La Gente began as a ``free clinic'' in 1978 in a converted apple shed warehouse in Watsonville. Gradually it grew and developed, incorporating in 1980, and in the early 1990's was designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center. Salud has now expanded to twelve clinic sites, including seven school-based medical and dental clinics. The staff of 195 saw over 23,000 patients in 2009 and has a budget of $19.2 million for fiscal year 2010-2011. Sixteen physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and medical assistants provide general family practice, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, family planning and nutrition. Eleven dentists and dental assistants and an optometrist take care of the needs of patients of all ages. A staff of twenty-two assists elders with their daily living tasks. With this large array of services, Salud has become a leader in delivering primary care to medically underserved populations in my District. All who seek care are welcome, regardless of ability to pay. Madam Speaker, I know all my colleagues in the House join me in saluting the success of Salud Para La Gente, and congratulate them on this important milestone anniversary. We wish Salud great success over the course of its next thirty years.