John Garamendi

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, today I introduce the Farmworker Pesticide Safety Act in commemoration of Cesar Chavez Day. This legislation is endorsed by the Association of American Pesticide Control Officials (AAPCO). The Farmworker Pesticide Safety Act would support the correct application of pesticides in agriculture and provide farmworkers additional resources for the safe handling of pesticides and proper decontamination protocols following their workday. This new federal funding would come at no cost to taxpayers, complementing the substantial investments California's Department of Pesticide Regulation is already making to ensure that farmworkers and their young children are not exposed to dangerous pesticide levels in my State. Specifically, my bill would effectively triple funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) worker protection, public- private partnership, and pesticide safety education grant programs. I am honored to represent the University of California, Davis Extension, which is the single largest recipient of this federal grant money in the entire country. According to the USEPA, the agency collected between $2.3 million to $9.25 million annually for pesticide regulatory violations over the past 5 years. Under current federal law, these fines and penalties collected from lawbreakers in the pesticide industry revert to the U.S. Treasury. My Farmworker Pesticide Safety Act would instead direct these fines toward the USEPA's three major pesticide safety grant programs, at no additional cost to taxpayers, growers, or the pesticide industry. This means my bill would provide an average of $4.15 million per year in additional USEPA grant funding. In 2019, Congress passed the Pesticide Registration Improvement Extension Act of 2018 (Public Law 116-8) reauthorizing the fee schedule for pesticide registrations with the USPEA through the end of fiscal year 2023. I look forward to working with Chairman Scott and all members of the Committee on Agriculture to include the Farmworker Pesticide Safety Act in the next PRIA reauthorization.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, today I reintroduce the ``Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act,'' with Congressman Mike Turner (R-OH) as the original cosponsor. The late Congressman Walter B. Jones, Jr. (R-NC), my dear friend and our beloved colleague, sponsored the ``Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act'' every Congress since 2002. I am honored to continue his work on this critical, bipartisan legislation to protect military families from completely avoidable bank overdrafts following a veteran's death. Specifically, the ``Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act'' would allow the spouse or other designated survivor/beneficiary of a veteran to retain the full retirement benefit paid out in the final month just before or coinciding with the veteran's death. Under current Department of Defense policy, that final month's retirement benefit may be clawed back on a prorated basis if the family fails to immediately notify the Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS) of their veteran's death. Military families with joint bank accounts, into which retirement payments are deposited electronically, are often unaware that DFAS can claw back overpayments without the accountholder's consent. This results in joint bank accounts being drained of funds, subjecting veterans' families to overdraft fees and avoidable financial hardship following a veteran's death. The ``Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act'' would finally end this needless and callous DFAS practice for any retirement benefit received in the month for which a veteran was alive for at least 24 hours. Military families grieving the loss of their loved one should not be penalized for an accounting oversight by the Department of Defense. As chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, I plan to make the ``Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act'' a major priority during this year's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to join me and Congressman Turner (R-OH) in cosponsoring this bipartisan and commonsense bill.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, today I reintroduce the bipartisan ``Student Loan Refinancing and Recalculation Act'' to address the ballooning student loan debt crisis crippling millions of Americans and their families. I thank my bipartisan co-lead Congressman Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and the other original cosponsors for their support. This legislation would allow students to refinance their federal student loan interest rates, lower future student loan interest rates, eliminate origination fees on student loans, delay student loan interest rate accrual for low-income and middle-class borrowers while they are pursuing their education, and allow for borrowers in medical, veterinary or dental residencies to defer payments until the completion of their professional accreditation program. With over 45 million Americans burdened by student loan debt, the education debt crisis has reached an epidemic level. The total student loan debt in America has reached nearly $1.7 trillion according to the Federal Reserve. The need to service these debt loads often prevents graduates from making important purchases like houses or cars, and it also can make people more hesitant to take risks like starting a new business. Cumulatively, this mountain of debt slows down our economy and makes it less entrepreneurial, productive, and vibrant. Most student loan debt is owed to the federal government, at interest rates of up to 5.30 percent or more for earlier loans. That percentage far exceeds the market rate for most government loans or U.S. Treasury bonds. Americans with student loans should be able to reasonably refinance their debt just as they would for a mortgage or any other consumer loan. The ``Student Loan Refinancing and Recalculation Act,'' which I have sponsored since the 114th Congress, would relieve some of the debt burden faced by American students and their families, while also ensuring that the federal government is not making a profit on the backs of students. Madam Speaker, I urge all members of the House to join us in cosponsoring the ``Student Loan Refinancing and Recalculation Act'' and to work to address this crisis facing so many Americans.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, today I reintroduce a noncontroversial amendment to the Clean Water Act, extending permit terms for publicly owned water infrastructure projects under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). I thank my colleague Congressman Ken Calvert (R-CA) for his support as the original cosponsor. This bipartisan bill would simply extend the NPDES permit term for projects owned by local public agencies and water districts from the current 5 up to 10 years. This would encourage investment in modern wastewater treatment facilities by relieving unnecessary, bureaucratic paperwork and allow regulators to focus on watershed-scale planning and water quality standards. This bill is supported by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, National Association of Counties, United States Conference of Mayors, National Association of Counties, National League of Cities, National Water Resources Association, Association of California Water Agencies, California Association of Sanitation Agencies, WateReuse Association, and Water Environment Federation. The United States has fallen behind many other developed nations in wastewater infrastructure, receiving a D+ grade in the American Society of Civil Engineers' most recent report card. One reason for this lapse in infrastructure improvements is arbitrary permitting timetables imposed by the federal government. Permit terms should match the construction timelines and on-the-ground reality for the projects to which they apply. This is currently not the case. With over 95 percent of wastewater infrastructure spending at the local level, according to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, lengthening permit terms for local governments would be one of the most expeditious ways to encouraging further investment in 21st-century wastewater treatment facilities. Current NPDES permitting under the Clean Water Act has a maximum term of 5 years, an aggressive timeline that is impracticable given construction schedules of local public agencies. As a result, California's State Water Resources Control Board and Clean Water Act regulators in other states are overwhelmed with a backlog of NPDES permitting requests for existing projects. New public projects are, likewise, significantly delayed by this unnecessary bureaucracy. My office has identified nearly a dozen major public projects to modernize wastewater treatment plants or build water recycling facilities in California delayed by the current 5-year NPDES term. One such public water recycling project in a drought-stricken region of southern California is well into its third NPDES permit term before even breaking ground on the underlying project. This is just one example where the arbitrary 5-year permit term impedes public water infrastructure projects that would advance the stated goals of the Clean Water Act. My bill would alleviate this burden by extending the maximum permit to 10 years, helping local water agencies nationwide better implement the Clean Water Act and literally cutting the permitting backlog in half. Extending the NPDES permitting term is a practical solution that allows local agencies to meet the existing regulatory standards while building public water projects that measurably improve water quality, which after all is the purpose of the Clean Water Act. NPDES permit terms for private projects or industrial discharges would remain at the current 5-year term. Madam Speaker, I encourage all Members to cosponsor this bipartisan bill to extend the maximum NPDES permit term for public water projects under the Clean Water Act. I plan to make this commonsense legislation a top priority in my work on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased that the Senate has passed and the House is now expected to re-pass the ``American Rescue Plan Act of 2021'' (H.R. 1319), for President Biden to sign into law. This critical legislation provides federal relief totaling more than $218 billion to state governments and more than $140 billion to county and municipal governments. State and local governments will use this federal relief to continue providing essential services to the American public. With this soon-to-be law, Congress has answered President Biden's call to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic, rebuild our economy, and help Americans return to normal life once we have widespread vaccination. While this soon-to-be law does not include my ``Special Districts Provide Essential Services Act'' (H.R. 535), I hope that states will use the flexibility provided under the ``American Rescue Plan Act'' to pass though some federal relief to the 2,700 special districts in California and 30,000 special districts nationwide providing essential public services cities and counties do not provide to residents. Those services include first responders, policing, firefighting, public health, and more, making special districts indeed critical to the communities they serve. Special districts must now make their case directly to each state's Governor. I want to thank my colleagues who cosponsored H.R. 535 and U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) for sponsoring the companion legislation. I plan to continue working to ensure that special districts can access the Federal Reserve's Municipal Liquidity Facility in the future, as called for in my ``Special Districts Provide Essential Services Act.'' Like states, counties, and cities, many special districts serve large populations and have the legal authority to issue short-term tax and revenue anticipation notes. However, special districts are not currently guaranteed access to the Municipal Liquidity Facility, even to offset revenue shortfalls caused by this ongoing pandemic or similar emergencies. Congress must ensure that local governments including special districts have the federal support needed to deliver crucial quality- of-life services to communities during this global pandemic and future national emergencies.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, I rise to echo the words of our President: Americans, help is on the way. The House of Representatives and Senate have passed the rescue bill, and there is money for vaccinations, money to open the schools, and money for small businesses. The opportunity to revise and rebuild our economy is at hand. The President will soon sign this legislation, and help is on the way.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, today I reintroduce the ``Energizing American Shipbuilding Act'', which I have sponsored since 2016 as part of my ``Make it in America'' agenda. I thank my bipartisan original cosponsors for their support, as well as U.S. Senators Roger F. Wicker (R-MS) and Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA) for sponsoring the companion bill. Our bipartisan legislation seeks to recapitalize America's strategic domestic shipbuilding and maritime industries by requiring that increasing percentages of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and crude oil exports be transported on U.S.-built, flagged, and crewed vessels. In total, our bill would require that 15 percent of total seaborne LNG exports be exported on vessels built in the United States by 2043 and 10 percent of total seaborne crude oil exports by 2035. In total, the ``Energizing American Shipbuilding Act'' is projected to result in the construction of more than 40 American ships: approximately 28 LNG carriers by 2043 and 12 oil tankers by 2035. This work will support thousands of new well-paying jobs in American shipyards, as well as the domestic vessel component manufacturing and maritime industries. Unless Congress acts, all U.S. seaborne LNG and crude oil exports will be on foreign-flagged vessels, operated by foreign crews. American shipyards and mariners are ready for the job, and our bill ensures they are no longer expected to compete against heavily subsidized foreign shipyards in Korea, China, and elsewhere. There is strong precedent for this policy. In 1995, Congress enacted the Alaska Power Administration Asset Sale and Termination Act (Public Law 104-58). This federal law allowed the export of crude oil from Alaska's North Slope but required that those exports be transported on U.S.-flagged vessels to preserve the tanker fleet essential to our national defense. It was good policy then, and it is good policy now. The ``Energizing American Shipbuilding Act'' would implement a similar requirement that fixed percentages of seaborne U.S. LNG and crude oil exports be on U.S.-built, flagged, and crewed vessels. These same vessels, once built under our bill, would be available to meet the U.S. military's sealift and supply needs around the globe. Like many members of Congress, I am deeply troubled that our military, namely the Defense Logistics Agency, relies on foreign-owned oil tankers, including state-owned enterprises closely linked to the Chinese government. Our bipartisan bill also counters other export countries' similar requirements, including the Russian-flagged vessel requirement for arctic oil and natural gas exports announced by the Kremlin in December 2018. The United States projected to become a net crude oil exporter and the top LNG exporting nation in the coming years. Exports of these two strategic national assets--LNG and crude oil--should be on American vessels, which is exactly what our bill would require. Madam Speaker, I urge all members of the House to join us in cosponsoring the ``Energizing American Shipbuilding Act.'' Lastly, I want to thank my former Chief of Staff, Ms. Emily Burns, for her instrumental role in developing this legislation during the 114th and 115th Congresses while on my staff.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, today I reintroduce the ``Support Our Military Working Dogs Act'' in commemoration of National K9 Veterans Day later this week. The United States K9 Corps was established on March 13, 1942. Military working dogs serve with our troops on the front lines and provide recuperating services for our veterans and their former handlers. Caring for these dogs in the field and once they return home is our responsibility. The ``Support Our Military Working Dogs Act'' would ensure that our nation's military working dogs receive the best possible care and direct the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to work with veterans' service organizations and other nonprofits to support their long-term veterinary care, once adopted by their former handler's into loving homes. Specifically, the ``Support Our Military Working Dogs Act'' would authorize DOD to provide charitable support for retired or injured military working dogs after their adoption, by coordinating third-party donations to cover the cost of long-term veterinary care. The bill would also ensure that the U.S. government covers all transportation costs associated with transferring retired military animals, including horses, to their new adopted homes, building upon the success of the Military Working Dog Retirement Act of 2015. Lastly, the bill for this Congress includes a new provision clarifying that DOD's Joint Trauma Education and Training Directorate may also conduct research on the treatment and avoidance of injuries for military working dogs. Former Congressman Ralph Abraham (R-LA) sponsored this provision as an amendment to the House-passed ``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021,'' but it was ultimately removed during conference negotiations with the Senate. I am pleased to include this much-needed clarification in my bill. As chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, which has jurisdiction over military working dogs, I urge all members of the House to join me in cosponsoring this important legislation. Congress must support our K9 veterans during and after their service.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to reintroduce the ``Peace Corps Reauthorization Act'' on today, the 60th anniversary of the Peace Corps' founding and the start of National Peace Corps Week. I want to thank my fellow Congressional Peace Corps Caucus co-chair Representative Graves (R-LA), as well as Representatives Meng (D-NY), Radewagen (R-AS), Phillips (D-MN), Case (D-HI), and Sires (D-NJ), for their support as original cosponsors. Like successive generations of young Americans, my wife Patti and I answered President John F. Kennedy's call and served in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia from 1966 to 1968. This foundational experience inspired our lifetime of service that continued into California state government, the Clinton Administration, and now the United States Congress. Since the establishment of the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 230,000 American volunteers have served in some 141 countries around the world. Due to the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, the Peace Corps was forced to recall all volunteers serving in 65 countries in March 2020. Now more than ever, Congress must support the Peace Corps' mission and realize President Kennedy's vision of generations of young Americans, ready to serve their nation and make the world a better place. Our ``Peace Corps Reauthorization Act'' would do just that by providing additional federal resources to better support current and returned volunteers. This bipartisan bill would also provide the funding necessary to redeploy Peace Corps volunteers once it is safe to do so after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, with the goal of finally reaching 10,000 volunteers serving annually around the world. This bipartisan bill builds upon the Sam Farr and Nick Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-256) and the Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-57) sponsored by former Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX). The bill also builds upon legislation sponsored by former Congressman Sam Farr (D-CA), who served in the Peace Corps in Colombia from 1964 to 1966. As co-chair of the Congressional Peace Corps Caucus, I continue working in support of the Peace Corps' mission, its volunteers, and the indelible impact their service has on the lives of needy people the world over. Congress last reauthorized the Peace Corps in 1999 (Public Law 106-30), expiring at the end of fiscal year 2003. So, my bipartisan ``Peace Corps Reauthorization Act'' is long overdue. Madam Speaker, I look forward to working with the new Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) and Ranking Member Michael McCaul (R-TX) to pass the ``Peace Corps Reauthorization Act'' this Congress. I encourage all members of the House to cosponsor this bipartisan bill.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, my amendment (Garamendi No. 6) to the ``Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act'' (H.R. 803) would adjust the Congressionally designated boundary of the Sacramento- San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area to include approximately 62 acres of adjacent publicly owned land in unincorporated Solano County. I thank Rules Chairman McGovern (D-MA) for making my noncontroversial amendment in order and Natural Resources Chairman Grijalva (D-AZ) for including it in the en bloc #1 amendments today, offered by Congressman Neguse (D-CO). My amendment is identical to H.R. 1230, which I introduced on February 23, 2021, at the request of the City of Rio Vista. It would include the decommissioned United States Army Reserve Center (Rio Vista), U.S. Coast Guard Station Rio Vista, Beach Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant (City of Rio Vista), and Sandy Beach County Park (Solano County) in the National Heritage Area. Two of these parcels--the decommissioned United States Army Reserve Center and Beach Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant--are owned by the City of Rio Vista but technically outside the city limits. As such, it appears these parcels were omitted inadvertently when the National Park Service prepared the legislative map for the then-proposed Delta National Heritage Area in 2010. Including these parcels within the National Heritage Area's boundary supports the City of Rio Vista's proposed redevelopment of the decommissioned United States Army Reserve Center, now owned by the City. In March 2019, Congress enacted into law (Public Law 116-9) my legislation with U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) designating the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta as California's first national heritage area. The Delta is a crown jewel of our state and an iconic working landscape, which my family has been fortunate to call home for over 40 years. It is the most productive watershed in the western United States and among the most ecologically important in the Western Hemisphere. Together, we must safeguard the Delta and the historic communities that make it such a special place, including Rio Vista. Expanding the Delta National Heritage Area will ensure that the proposed redevelopment of the decommissioned Rio Vista Army base and similar projects on the adjacent publicly owned land are eligible to apply for the $10 million in federal grant funding available until 2034. I urge all Members to support my amendment and the underlying bill, which I will work to enact into law before California's Delta Protection Commission completes the management plan for the National Heritage Area.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, today I introduce legislation to adjust the Congressional designated boundary of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area. In March 2019, Congress enacted into law (Public Law 116-9) my legislation with U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein designating California's first national heritage area. The Delta is a crown jewel of our state and an iconic working landscape, which my family has been fortunate to call home for over 40 years. It is the most productive watershed in the western United States and among the most ecologically important in the Western Hemisphere. Together, we must safeguard the Delta and the historic communities that make it such a special place. The legislation I introduce today, at the request of the City of Rio Vista, would expand the National Heritage Area's boundary to include approximately 62 acres of adjacent publicly owned land encompassing: the decommissioned United States Army Reserve Center (City of Rio Vista), U.S. Coast Guard Station Rio Vista, Beach Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant (City of Rio Vista), and Sandy Beach County Park (Solano County). Two of these parcels--the decommissioned United States Army Reserve Center and Beach Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant--are owned by the City of Rio Vista but technically outside the city limits. As such, it appears that these parcels were omitted inadvertently when the National Park Service prepared the legislative map for the then-proposed Delta National Heritage Area in 2010. I hope that Congress will enact my boundary adjustment before California's Delta Protection Commission completes the management plan for the National Heritage Area.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, today I reintroduce the ``Special Districts Provide Essential Services Act,'' at the request of the California Special Districts Association and the 237 special districts within California's third Congressional district. I want to thank my original cosponsors for their support of this much-needed legislation. I also want to thank U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) for sponsoring the companion legislation. Special districts are independent units of local government that provide public services cities and counties do not provide for residents. Those services include first responders, policing, firefighting, public health, and more, making special districts critical to the communities they serve. To date, Congress has inadvertently excluded special districts from the direct federal financial assistance provided to state, county, and municipal governments during this pandemic for essential services. For example, special districts are currently ineligible for direct federal financial assistance under the ``Coronavirus Relief Fund'' established by the CARES Act (Public Law 116-136). Our bicameral legislation would ensure that the 2,700 special districts in California and 30,000 special districts nationwide are eligible for any additional assistance provided by Congress to state, county, and local governments to aid in the fight against COVID-19. The ``Special Districts Provide Essential Services Act'' would also allow special districts access to the Federal Reserve's Municipal Liquidity Facility, which provides states, counties, and municipalities federally guaranteed bridge financing to offset unexpected short-term revenue shortfalls. Like states, counties, and cities, many special districts serve large populations and have the legal authority to issue short-term tax and revenue anticipation notes. However, special districts are not currently guaranteed access to the Municipal Liquidity Facility, even to offset revenue shortfalls caused by this ongoing pandemic Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to join us in cosponsoring the ``Special Districts Provide Essential Services Act.'' Congress must ensure that all local governments have the federal support needed to deliver crucial quality-of-life services for our communities during this global pandemic, including special districts nationwide.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, today I reintroduce the ``American Food for American Schools Act,'' which I have sponsored since the 114th Congress. I want to thank Representatives Kaptur (D-OH), Fortenberry (R-NE), Ryan (D-OH), LaMalfa (R-CA), Carbajal (D-CA), Young (R-AK), and Kilmer (D-WA) for their support as original cosponsors. Our ``American Food for American Schools Act'' would strengthen enforcement of the existing ``Buy American'' requirements under the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) school breakfast, special milk, and national school lunch programs. This will ensure that school districts use federal taxpayer dollars to purchase domestically sourced food products for all in-school meals and afterschool snacks. Our bipartisan bill would also increase public transparency by allowing parents to know from where the food served to their children in school comes. Even in California's Central Valley, which includes many of the most productive agricultural communities in the nation, school districts continue to misuse taxpayer dollars to buy imported foods, unnecessarily, without informing parents. In numerous cases, these same imported foods have been recalled due to safety concerns and outbreaks of food borne diseases. This is especially troubling as those same foods could have been sourced locally in the first place as required by federal law. Under our bill, school districts would be required to obtain a written waiver from USDA to use federal taxpayer dollars to purchase foreign-sourced food products. Any such waivers would only be granted by USDA if the domestically produced food was cost prohibitive or simply unavailable. Our bill would also require that school districts notify parents of all foreign-sourced foods served to students, by posting any such waivers obtained from USDA on the school's website. This would increase public transparency and provide American farmers the opportunity to seek out school districts in need of affordable, domestically grown foods. Our nation's schoolchildren should be served nutritious, American-grown foods produced under the strictest food safety standards in the world, as required by federal law. That is exactly what our bill would accomplish. In the 115th Congress, we included a ``Buy American'' enforcement provision for the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Program in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-334), commonly known as the 2018 Farm Bill. This was a first step in addressing this critical issue for American farmers and parents with school-age children. Now, Congress needs to finish the job by passing our ``American Food for American Schools Act'' into law. Madam Speaker, I hope all members of the House will join us in cosponsoring the ``American Food for American Schools Act of 2021.'' I look forward to working with the Committee on Education and Labor to ensure that our bipartisan bill is included in any future Child Nutrition Reauthorization legislation.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, I rise today determined to fulfill our sacred oath to protect and defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Last week's violent insurrection on the Capitol was a stain on our democracy. A riotous mob incited by the President stormed these very Halls, beat and murdered police officers, planted pipe bombs, and left our Nation shocked and in mourning. The President's rhetoric, actions, and refusal to accept responsibilities are an imminent threat to our Nation. I vote to impeach the President. I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Bruce Hammock and his exemplary interdisciplinary career. He has been a legendary figure in his field for over four decades and his efforts have made critical advancements in our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases, non- addictive solutions to managing chronic pain, and environmental conservation. Dr. Hammock's recent research on regulatory enzyme inhibitors and their effect on neuroinflammation has reshaped the way we understand both the cause and cure of the degenerative disease. Alongside his UC Davis team, Dr. Hammock partnered with Baylor University as well as other researchers across the globe to study soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) and its effect on the brains of mice. Dr. Hammock's study found that inhibiting sEH may offer a new pathway to reduce neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration; leading to a breakthrough in recognizing the potential benefits of sEH inhibitors in Alzheimer's treatment. Groundbreaking research is nothing new in the world of Dr. Hammock. He is currently a distinguished professor at UC Davis in the Department of Entomology and Nematology and part of the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center. During his time at the university Hammock has been at the helm of the Superfund Research Program for over three decades--a government-funded program focused on finding solutions to the complex health and environmental issues linked with the nation's hazardous waste sites. In addition to his invaluable contributions to science, Dr. Hammock has taken up another admirable charge--to make science and learning fun. Every year he and his lab organize a water balloon fight between faculty and students on the lawn of UC Davis' Briggs Hall where other labs and bystanders join in on the action. This event is a small glimpse into Hammock's unique character--one described by colleagues as enthusiastic, creative, and hard-working. Dr. Hammock's limitless drive and curiosity contribute both to the stellar reputation of UC Davis as an esteemed research institute and California's 3rd Congressional District as a whole. We wish him all the best in his endeavors and look forward to seeing all that he accomplishes in the future.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Richard Rominger and his legacy as a champion of rural communities and American farmers. Patti and I are deeply saddened by Richard's passing, and our hearts are with Evelyn and their family during this difficult time. I called Rich's cell phone the morning he passed away. He did not answer. I've called that number hundreds of times seeking advice and counsel, and I have always come away from the conversation with a gem of wisdom, a better solution to a problem, encouragement, and a precious gift of friendship. Not this time. My call was answered by his son confirming Richard Rominger's death. I'll keep Rich's number. He won't answer, but just calling will encourage me to stay true to the lessons he taught me. I know that Rich treated everyone with the same respect and desire to help. Perhaps they will keep that number, too. Richard and Evelyn Rominger served in President Bill Clinton's administration with Patti and I. Richard was Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Patti ran the Foreign Agriculture Service's food and famine programs. Richard was always the bulwark of support for the American family farmer. He knew the challenges facing farm families, and he knew how to use government to improve their lot. During the Clinton years the Department of Agriculture and Department of Interior, where I was also Deputy, teamed up to produce seminal studies on the effects of Climate Change, create the first Tahoe Summit, address droughts, support land conservation efforts nationwide, attack invasive species, and protect America's great forest. Governor Jerry Brown recognized Richard's potential as a problem solver when he appointed Richard to serve as the Secretary of the California Department of Agriculture. A problem-solver was necessary with Medflies, drought, water wars, and agricultural labor problems in abundance. Undaunted by these challenges, Rominger steered a wise course that yielded a bumper crop of solutions. Following his time in government, Richard returned to Winters--where he was raised--to continue his work supporting the U.S. agriculture industry. Richard was named Agriculturalist of the Year by the California State Fair and received a Distinguished Service Award from the California Farm Bureau Federation for his lifelong commitment to the agricultural community. Richard was a dear friend for whom I have the deepest respect and admiration. His life's work has had an indelible positive impact on our state and nation, and he will be deeply missed. Patti and I send our condolences to Evelyn and the Rominger family.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Marshall McKay and his legacy as a champion of Native American heritage and the rights of indigenous people in his community and around the world. My wife Patti and I are devastated to learn of Marshall McKay's passing, who died of COVID-19. Born in Colusa, California, to a renowned Native American healer and basket weaver, Mr. McKay was the first person from his family to attend college. Following his graduation from Sonoma State University, he worked for the U.S. Department of Defense repairing and maintaining nuclear submarines for 15 years. Following his service, he became a founding member of the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation and was appointed to the Smithsonian Institution's Board of the National Museum of the American Indian, which stands just a few blocks from this chamber. In addition, Mr. McKay served on the Yocha Dehe Tribal Council from 1984 to 2015. His dedication to the work of the council culminated in a decade of service as its chairman. During that time, the tribe was a key partner with the local community on several fronts and a benefactor to many local nonprofits. Through his many roles, Mr. McKay championed the environment and fought for tribal land-use rights. His life's work has had an indelible positive impact on his tribe, our state, and the nation. He was a beloved member of our community, and he will be deeply missed. Our hearts are with Marshall McKay's family, loved ones, and tribe during this difficult time.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great sadness and anger over the events that transpired on January 6, and I rise with steadfast determination to take every possible action to ensure that those who incited and committed the unconscionable acts on that day are brought to justice. Last week's violent insurrection on the U.S. Capitol left at least six people dead and dozens injured. It was a stain on our Nation and our democracy. They beat police officers, they murdered a police officer, they planted pipe bombs, they brandished weapons, and they left our Nation shocked and mourning. Just as this Congress returned mere hours after this insurrection to certify the lawful results of the 2020 Presidential election, we stand here today prepared to take firm, decisive, and necessary action to restore our country. No President who invites thousands of his most devoted supporters to Washington and urges them to fight his political enemies by committing a seditious act on our democracy should be allowed to remain in office. If the Vice President does not act to hold the President accountable, then we leave this Nation vulnerable to future demagogues. That brings us here today, on this somber day, to carry out our sacred oath to defend and protect the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Mr. Speaker, I will vote to impeach those responsible, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great sadness and anger over the events that transpired on January 6th, and steadfast determination to take every possible action to ensure those who incited and committed the unconscionable acts on that day are brought to justice. Last week's violent insurrection on the U.S. Capitol, which has left at least five people dead and dozens injured, was a stain on our nation and our democracy. The President's blatantly false claims about election fraud, which were parroted by current administration officials and members of the House and Senate, finally reached a tipping point last week when these boldface lies gave way to a violent assault on our nation's Capitol. Even after 64 failed attempts in federal court to substantiate the baseless claims about election fraud, the President, his administration, and members of Congress continued to double down and use these mistruths to incite a mob to stage a bloody insurrection against the United States Government. They beat and murdered police officers, they planted pipe bombs, brandished weapons, and left our nation shocked and in mourning. What does it mean, then, for America that a sitting President invited thousands of his most fervent supporters to Washington and incited them to commence a violent occupation of the world's citadel of democracy-- the United States Capitol? Without a proper check and proportional response to these events, we will be doomed to re-live the same hell over and over again. In time, we will lose our democracy, our hallowed institutions, and irreparably tear at the very fabric of our nation. As elected leaders of this nation, we have a right, but more importantly, a moral obligation to respond to those who incited this riot in the strongest possible terms. Just as this Congress returned mere hours after this insurrection to certify the lawful results of the 2020 Presidential election, we stand here today prepared to take firm, decisive, and necessary action to restore our country from the heinous state it spiraled into on 1/6/ 2021. Mr. Speaker I rise today to implore the Vice President of the United States and the members of the President's cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove this dangerous President from office before he can inflict more harm on our nation. It's time for the Vice President to stand up for American democracy. I will also join my colleagues in supporting articles of impeachment against the President. The President's violent rhetoric and actions pose a significant threat to our nation with every passing minute that he's allowed to remain in office. No President who invites thousands of his most devoted supporters to Washington and urges them to ``fight'' his political enemies by committing a seditious attack on our Capitol should be allowed to remain in office. Our nation has endured and persevered through so much, and it will survive this President. But if we do not act and hold him accountable, then we will leave our nation vulnerable to a future demagogue. That brings us here on this somber day to carry out our sacred oath to defend and protect the Constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic. I will vote to impeach this President, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Danusia Hubah of the U.S. Department of State, upon her completion of the Brookings Institution's LEGIS Congressional Fellowship. Assigned to my office for the 2020 calendar year, Ms. Hubah quickly became an integral part of my team, lending her expertise as a U.S. foreign policy and national security professional to guide and inform my work in Congress. She will certainly be missed after an exceptional year of service. Ms. Hubah is a native of San Pedro, California, and holds a Master of Arts in International Security Studies from Georgetown University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Relations from the University of California, San Diego. Ms. Hubah has devoted her entire adult life to public service. With nearly two decades of foreign policy experience, she has held numerous positions at home and abroad, including the U.S. National Security Council, the U.S. Department of State, and U.S. embassies and consulates across the Middle East. Her knowledge and deep understanding of issues pertaining particularly to the Middle East have been invaluable. This moment is bittersweet, as we are deeply saddened to see Ms. Hubah go. However, she has a bright future and we are excited for what awaits her. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the U.S. Congress and a grateful Nation, I extend our deepest appreciation to Ms. Danusia Hubah for her dedicated service to the U.S. Department of State, U.S. House of Representatives, and to our Nation.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Commander Marcus L. Jones of the U.S. Navy, upon his completion of the Department of Defense Legislative Fellowship program. Assigned to my office for the 2020 calendar year, Commander Jones quickly became an integral part of my team, lending his expertise as a U.S. Navy Supply Corps Officer to guide and inform my work as Chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee within the House Armed Services Committee. Over this past year, Commander Jones has worked closely with my personal staff and Readiness Subcommittee staff on the military's most pressing readiness challenges. He will be deeply missed after an exceptional year of service. Commander Jones is a native of Columbus, Mississippi, and is a graduate of the University of Memphis with a degree in International Business. He also holds a Master of Business Administration from Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy. Commander Jones began his career in 2001, and has since held numerous operational and shore assignments including on the USS West Virginia (SSBN-736B) and USS George Washington (CVN-73), at the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, Naval Supply Systems Command, Naval Air Systems Command, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and in the office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Budget. His extensive background in logistics has been critical to my work in strengthening and recapitalizing our nation's maritime logistics force. Commander Jones and his wife, Sybil, have three beautiful daughters, and his family continues to support him and his service to our nation. This moment is bittersweet, as we are deeply saddened to see Commander Jones go. However, we are excited for what awaits him and what his future holds. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the U.S. Congress and a grateful Nation, I extend our deepest appreciation to Commander Marcus L. Jones for his dedicated service to the U.S. Navy, U.S. House of Representatives, and to our Nation.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). I would like to start by thanking Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Thornberry, and the House Armed Services Committee staff who have worked tirelessly throughout this past year to get us to this point. It's a good bill and I encourage my colleagues to support the conference report. As the Chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee, I worked closely with members on and off the committee to ensure the bill addressed key priority areas affecting our military. First, the bill includes a number of bipartisan provisions aimed at addressing climate change. The bill does the following: requires an update to the Department of Defense Climate Change Roadmap; requires a report on the implementation of provisions from the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act related to installation master planning, updates to the Unified Facilities Criteria, sea-level rise modeling, and climate assessment tools; includes an alternative fuel vehicle pilot program to require the military departments to expand their use of alternative fuel non-tactical vehicles to increase the use of hybrid and EV vehicles; requires the Department to submit a report on its greenhouse gas emissions for the last 10 years within 180 days of enactment; requires the Department to invest in research and development of advanced water harvesting technologies that would aid in addressing water security issues in areas impacted by drought due to climate change; expands the Department's ability to use installation resilience authorities to support climate resiliency projects at National Guard Facilities owned by the State; and requires the military services to assess their water use at installations in regions experiencing water scarcity, maximize use of landscaping practices that reduce water usage, and improve their water conservation. The bill also includes provisions that address energy resiliency for military bases, including the following: requires a report on efforts taken to ensure fuel consumption, distribution, and logistics are being considered across the Department and that steps are being taken to reduce consumption of fossil fuels by 30 percent in 25 years to reduce the number of resupply convoys and oilers required in a contested environment; requires the Department of Defense to institute energy metering on critical military facilities to assess the energy requirements and plan to ensure resilient power sources for these facilities; establishes a pilot program to develop microgrids on military installations that integrate emergency diesel generators to demonstrate how microgrid emergency diesel generator backup power could create efficiencies and resiliency while reducing costs and emissions; promotes the use of on-site energy production to promote military installation energy resiliency and energy security; requires an assessment of the Department's installation and operational energy usage; re-establishes the Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund, which was eliminated in the budget request, and authorizes $65 million to demonstrate and field technologies that reduce fuel consumption and logistics; establishes an Operational Energy budget line to enhance transparency and congressional oversight of the Department's efforts to reduce fossil fuel usage and make conservation gains on operational platforms; and requires the Comptroller General to assess the Department's progress towards meeting net zero goals for installations to include an assessment of the cultural and legislative barriers to meeting these goals. The bill continues efforts to address contamination associated with per- and polyfluorinated compounds around military installations, including the following provisions: requires the Secretary of Defense to notify all agricultural operations in an area where covered PFAS has been detected in groundwater that is suspected to originate from use of firefighting foam on a military installation; requires the Department of Defense to notify the congressional defense committees when there has been an uncontrolled release of PFAS-containing firefighting agent; establishes a prize that can be awarded by the Secretary of Defense for innovative research that results in a viable replacement agent for firefighting foam that does not contain PFAS; requires the Department of Defense to survey and report on non-firefighting agent technologies, such as hangar flooring and firefighting equipment, that will help facilitate the phase-out of PFAS containing firefighting agents; makes technical corrections to the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act to ensure that all National Guard installations are eligible for funding under the Defense Environmental Restoration Account for PFAS remediation; establishes an interagency coordinating body for PFAS research; prohibits the Department of Defense from procuring certain items containing PFAS, including cookware, carpets, and upholstery with stain-resistant coatings; authorizes the Department to work with private entities to spur research, development and testing of PFAS-free fire-fighting agents; requires the National Institute of Standard and Technology to study the safety of firefighting equipment with respect to protecting fire fighters from PFAS, and conduct research on improving the safety of this equipment; authorizes $90 million for research lines that support development of PFAS remediation and disposal technologies and firefighting agent replacement; and authorizes a total of $1.4 billion for environmental remediation and BRAC accounts which support a range of remediation activities, to include those related to PFAS, at current military installations, formerly utilized defense sites, and installations closed by BRAC. The bill also builds on the Committee's previous legislative and oversight activities to ensure that military personnel and their families live in quality housing and that the Department and private housing partners are responsive to resident concerns. The bill does the following: requires a report on the oversight of known environmental hazards in government owned family housing, including overseas housing; requires the Department of Defense to report on the feasibility of standardizing privatized housing performance metrics to better allow the Department to track trends across the housing enterprise; for future and renegotiated privatized housing agreements, requires that funding for housing maintenance and recapitalization be prioritized ahead of housing management and other fees in the payment structure; updates minimum health and safety standards for all military base housing, requires transparency for private housing company contract performance fees, and requires a report on the status of other military housing reforms; increases transparency by requiring DOD to notify Congress of large expenditures coming from the family housing reinvestment accounts; repeals the provision in Title 10 that allowed the Department of Defense to place families in substandard housing units; requires the Secretary of Defense to implement Comptroller General recommendations for improvement of military family housing; and authorizes an additional $60 million for oversight and improvement of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI) program and to continue addressing environmental and maintenance issues in government- owned family housing. Other important provisions that I am pleased are in the conference report include the following: establishes an independent commission to make binding recommendations to the Secretary of Defense for the modification or removal of all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America or any person who served voluntarily with the Confederate States of America from all assets of the Department of Defense; amends the national emergency military construction authority (10 USC 2808) to set an annual limit of $100 million for the domestic use of the authority and $500 million for overseas projects, with an exception for medical projects that may be necessary to support response to a health emergency or pandemic; does not backfill military construction funds stolen for the border wall; makes technical corrections to the Paid Parental Leave benefit provided through the FY20 National Defense Authorization Act to ensure that Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, and certain other civilian employees inadvertently omitted from the legislation receive the paid parental leave benefit; establishes the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation and codifies in law the Department of Defense entity that runs the Joint Land Use Study, DOD Schools, Defense Community Infrastructure Program, and Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program to ensure stability and effective community engagement; authorizes $50 million for the Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) and clarifies congressional intent with respect to the implementation of the program; provides long overdue benefits to Vietnam-Era Veterans, adding hypothyroidism, bladder cancer and Parkinsonism to the Agent Orange Presumptive Conditions List; and prohibits retirement of the RQ-4 or U-2 aircraft until specific certifications or waivers have been provided to Congress. I'm also pleased this NDAA includes a 3 percent pay raise for our troops and includes several provisions that establish a National Maritime Logistics Fleet to bolster America's maritime sector. This is accomplished by strengthening US-flagged vessel requirements for the transportation of military cargo and fuels, creating a Tanker Security Program to address the shortfall in US-flagged, US-crewed tankers, and requiring the Navy to initiate an affordable, domestic built sealift ship. Strengthening our maritime logistics will bolster our nation's commercial shipping industry and enhance our military's capabilities by improving the overarching defense industrial base that supports each branch of our armed services. I am also pleased with the inclusion of the remaining provision of my bill, H.R. 2617, the Occupational and Environmental Transparency Health Act, to require DoD to integrate information from the Burn Pit Registry into servicemembers' Electronic Health Records to aid in the collection, documentation, and tracking of any exposures to Occupational Environmental Health (OEH) hazards. The legislative intent of H.R. 2617 has been fully accomplished through the NDAA as last year's FY20 NDAA required DoD to input any OEH hazards exposure into servicemembers' records while deployed so it is tracked throughout their career and into veteran status. Overall, I am proud of the Readiness Subcommittee's contribution to this year's bill and would like to thank the Readiness staff, Brian Garrett, Jeanine Womble, Melanie Harris, Jay Vallario, John Muller, Dave Sienicki, and Sean Falvey, and my personal staff, Betsy Thompson, Marcus Jones, and Danusia Hubah, for their tireless work. Marcus and Danusia will be departing the Hill after next week, and I would like to personally thank them for their hard work and sharing their expertise with us this past year. Both Marcus and Danusia have been invaluable members of my staff and we will miss them dearly. This bill helps advance our military's near-term readiness goals and drives the Department to plan for and take action against long-term threats. The conference report also authorizes funding that will strengthen DOD and the country's ability to respond to potential COVID- 19 resurgence and other infectious diseases in the future. With that, I urge my colleagues to support the FY21 NDAA.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the final ``Water Resources Development Act of 2020'' (S. 1811). Working with other members of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I am very pleased to reach agreement with the Senate on a truly bipartisan bill and the fourth biennial Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) to be passed by Congress since 2014. My Congressional district includes 200 miles of the Sacramento River and is adjacent to several major ports. WRDA 2020 includes key provisions for the California Delta and Central Valley to authorize and expedite construction of flood protection and aquatic ecosystem restoration projects, address harmful algal blooms, and give local agencies greater flexibility in using federal Army Corps funds to better meet local needs. Under Chairman DeFazio's leadership, the bill finally fixes the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to ensure that regional dredging and navigation projects are fully funded. I secured Congressional authorization for the Delta Islands and Levees Ecosystem Restoration Project, Yuba River Ecosystem Restoration Project, and Sacramento Regional Groundwater Bank in WRDA 2020. These projects provide critical flood protection and make local communities across the Central Valley more resilient to climate change. I also secured deauthorization of the Sacramento Riverbed Gradient Restoration Facility and Western Pacific Interceptor Canal, returning these former Army Corps projects to full local control. WRDA 2020 also expedites completion of the Army Corps' feasibility studies needed for the San Francisco Bay to Stockton Navigation Improvement Project, Lower Cache Creek Flood Risk Management Project, and Sutter Bypass and Sacramento River Basin Floodplain Management Project. I look forward to securing Congressional authorization for these projects once the Army Corps completes the requisite feasibility studies. Working with Rep. Doris O. Matsui (CA-06), I secured inclusion of our ``Yolo Bypass System Improvement Act'' in WRDA 2020 to improve coordinated planning for all restoration projects and federal permitting in the Yolo Bypass. Lastly, I am very pleased that the new Army Corps harmful algal bloom program established under WRDA 2020 includes the California Delta as a focus area. This will better protect the Delta's precious ecosystem from toxic algal blooms. The House report for WRDA 2020 includes my amendment directing the Army Corps to report to Congress on implementation of the Small Business Act across all the Corps' missions. This strengthens Congressional oversight over the Corps' contracting process and ensures that the Small Business Act is implemented fully in an equitably distributed manner, as intended by Congress. I want to extend a special appreciation to my colleague Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (CA-32), chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, for her tireless work in this WRDA for the entire California delegation. WRDA 2020 ensures that Army Corps projects in California requiring earthquake-resistance and other seismic safety costs remain equally competitive for federal funding compared to projects in other states. I urge all Members of Congress to support this bipartisan WRDA 2020, which is expected to be signed into law this year. This two-year authorization bill provides the federal support and certainty needed to keep Army Corps projects across California on time and on budget.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor His Eminence Archbishop Abune Melketsedek and his remarkable life committed to faith, knowledge, and compassion. With his passing at the age of 97, he leaves behind a legacy of undeniable virtue and resolve. Born in Megenta Kusquan in the province of Gondar, Ethiopia, Archbishop Melketsedek was identified at an early age as a prodigious student of the Church. At the age of 11, he was appointed to the diaconate at Debre Tabor Mehanealem, assuming the position of deacon for all the churches he visited. With a gift for scripture and unwavering devotion, he worked his way up through the Church, eventually becoming a close friend of Emperor Haile Selassie I and a trusted member of his cabinet. In 1959, the Emperor appointed the Archbishop to Director of Religious Affairs and tasked him with shaping a new clergy based on merit and integrity. He capitalized on his role, while also using his influence to support charitable organizations that established schools in Addis Ababa and rural parts of Ethiopia. In 1973, tragedy struck the Archbishop when the militant Derg Regime overthrew the Emperor and imprisoned and executed many of his cabinet and close associates. During the upheaval, the Archbishop was thrown in jail for over eight years. Amid this painful chapter, he remained resolute, spending his time as a counselor and spiritual guide for his fellow inmates who remember him as, ``a gift from God and father of consolation.'' Upon his release, His Eminence could not stand to see the destruction of his country and the debasement of his Church and began actively speaking out against the Derg regime which led to his exile from Ethiopia. The Archbishop found a new home in Berkeley, California where he continued his work as General Secretary of The Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church. From the United States he flew all over the world to support and unite the members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Archbishop Abune Melketsedek is a credit to the State of California and history will remember him as a good-hearted man with an unflinching commitment to his cause.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 2020 Women of the Year. The honorees represent some of the most outstanding and dedicated women in the 3rd Congressional District. Nominated by their peers, these women and the leadership they have provided are being recognized for playing an integral and crucial role in improving the lives of everyone in their communities. This year, we mark the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing and protecting women's constitutional right to vote. Since then, our nation has seen women take great strides in every American industry from business to politics to the arts. This progress has not come easy and many women who have come before have worked hard and strived to achieve the independence and rights women have today. Though there is more work to be done to ensure that women have equal pay, flexible work schedules, and affordable education, each of the honorees will be a vital part of the of the work to get there. 2020's Women of the Year are: Judi Booe is a long-time community supporter whose impact is seen and felt by many. As a semi-retired administrative staff member for the Collinsville Levee District, Judi works closely with community members and vendors. Formerly a resident of both Las Vegas, NV and Richmond, VA, Judi's community influence has followed wherever she has been. She is a supporter and board member of many local nonprofits in her community, including the Solano Symphony, Child Haven, Habitat for Humanity, the Vaca Arts Council, and so many others. Her dedication, compassion, and expertise make her well suited to the work she does assisting non-profits to review their by-laws and maintain crucial records. Judi has a generous heart and is the first to offer guidance or direction in any given situation. She leads by example in every setting and is an inspiration to all her peers. Her drive and generosity have earned her numerous awards, including the Solano Symphony League 2015 Volunteer of the Year, the Women's Club of Summerlin 2004 Award of Excellence, Habitat for Humanity Volunteer of the Year, and the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department Citizen of the Year award. Judi's leadership has made a positive impact on non- profits and community organizations across the country. Wendy Breckon is a dedicated public servant who is tirelessly committed to improving her community. Wendy began her public service as an environmental specialist for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, before deciding to pursue a law degree. As an attorney, she continued her governmental work, both prosecuting and defending administrative cases for state agencies, and reviewing contracts. She recently retired as an Administrative Law Judge for the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board. She is an expert on employer tax cases and used her expertise to educate other judges on the subject. Wendy is the founder and current chair of the Vacaville Community Association, an organization which advocates for increased transparency and accountability in local government. Under her leadership, the group was instrumental in bringing about policy change at the city level. Wendy also helped found Vacavillians for Fiscal Health and continues to lend her expertise on governmental budgets to the organization, advocating for fiscal accountability at the city level. Wendy's dedication to public service, civic engagement, and improving her community is an inspiration to all her peers. Aimee Brewer is a guiding force in her community with a passion for ensuring that all individuals live healthy, productive lives. She has put this passion to work at NorthBay Healthcare Group, a community- based organization that takes in everyone in need of care, regardless of their financial situation. It is her true calling to make a difference in her patients' lives every day. As president of the NorthBay Healthcare Group, her leadership has led to the launch of neurosurgery and robotic surgery programs, the advent of two community urgent care clinics, and the opening of a new state-of-the-art hospital wing. During the early weeks of the COVID-19 outbreak, Aimee lead the NorthBay Command Center team and maintained critical relationships with local, state, and federal agencies, where she promoted the first and most robust safety measures of any hospital. Throughout the pandemic, she has been an integral part of her community's COVID-19 response. Her leadership also stretches beyond the NorthBay Healthcare Group to many community organizations. She serves as Chair of the Solano Coalition for Better Health, Section Chair of the Northern & Central California Hospital Council, and a member of the board for Touro University California, Partnership HealthPlan, and the Solano Economic Development Corporation. Aimee brings strong leadership, boundless compassion, and unwavering generosity to all she does. Ms. Brenda Cameron is a selfless community servant who has dedicated her time and energy to countless youth organizations across her community. When not working in the UC Davis Evolution and Ecology Department as a lab manager, she has spent her time volunteering with organizations such as the Davis Senior High School Grad Night, Davis youth baseball and softball leagues, the Davis Comic Opera Company, and the Girl Scouts of the USA. Over the years, Brenda has worked closely with the Davis Girl Scouts and the Girl Scouts Heart of Central California Council. She became involved with the organization in 1999 and spent the next 13 years as a troop leader. In 2016, she began serving as the Davis Service Unit Coordinator where she has worked tirelessly to create an improved experience for Girl Scouts in her community. She recently participated in an experience with Girl Scouts and NASA where she learned new ways to encourage young women to get involved in STEM fields. Brenda brought what she learned back to the Davis Girl Scouts where she has helped introduce girls in her community to STEM fields through firsthand experiences. Her many acts of volunteerism have touched the lives of countless girls and young women throughout her community and inspired them to achieve their goals and go on to become young leaders in their own right. Adrian Carpenter-McKinney has long been an active member of her community. Adrian's upbringing and experiences instilled in her a deep desire to serve communities like hers and help anyone who faced similar adversity. After attaining her law degree, Adrian became a respected prosecutor both in the District Attorney's office and as a Deputy City Attorney for Sacramento. These positions also allowed her to pursue her passion for community involvement and civic engagement. She served as a Deputy Legal Affairs Secretary within Governor Brown's administration where she reviewed potential legislation and counselled the Governor on paroles and commutations. She later started her own consulting firm, where she works to empower young women to take on leadership positions within their community. She also serves as an advisor to Breakthrough Sacramento, a program that she previously participated in herself, where she encourages and assists disadvantaged young students to expand their worldview and works with them to achieve their goals. Adrian also serves on the Board for the Wiley W. Manuel Bar Association, where she has created mentorship programs to support African American law students reach their maximum potential. Adrian has a true passion for serving others and has been a part of numerous community organizations, including AmeriCorps, National Night Out, and the Veterans Stand Down, where she provided legal advice to homeless veterans in the greater Sacramento area. Her work within her community demonstrates her compassion, enthusiasm, and dedication to helping others. Kristine Cassidy has spent many years shaping Adventist Health with her influence and passion. Her ability to navigate changes and apply innovative thinking has earned her a distinguished career. Many of Kristine's achievements are not widely known, as she rarely seeks the spotlight and instead defers praise to her staff. She has guided Adventist Health through an intense period of change as they gained an affiliation with a new organization, assisted with recovery efforts during the Camp Fire, and became a driving force during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Kristine's commitment to service is an inspiration to all as she consistently works to achieve important community goals and create a better life for everyone in the Yuba-Sutter community. Kristine started at Adventist Health 31 years ago, where she began enhancing dietetic services and developing high levels of food service management. Kristine was then asked to take over Rideout's Assisted Living Services where she elevated it to the premier choice for individuals seeking assisted living and increased its performance to unprecedented levels. Kristine is known to leave every department better than she found it, act as a quiet and steady leader, and is a vital member of her community. Outside of her leadership within Adventist Health, Kristine served as chair of the board of the Yuba- Sutter Chamber of Commerce where her vision, hard work, and leadership can still be seen through the effective and growing Chamber today. She has also given her time to the Yuba-Sutter Food Bank, the Yuba City High School girls basketball team, and the Yuba College District. Kristine has been a mentor to countless young women and her leadership in the community will be felt for years to come. Denise Conrado is an activist and dedicated volunteer within her community. Currently serving as the co-leader of Indivisible Colusa County, Denise plays a crucial role in raising the profile of progressive voices and values within Colusa County. Through hard work, determination, and focus, she has spent over two years organizing monthly events for Indivisible Colusa, including Conversations with Community Leaders, a public forum where local leaders and activists come together to find common ground on critical issues to both Colusa County and to the country as a whole. Furthermore, Denise is a founding member of the Colusa County Democratic Central Committee, where she served as Treasurer until August when she decided to run for Colusa City Council. Activism work is not the only place that Denise shines. She is also a dedicated advocate for children, having had a successful career as a school administrator, she volunteers her time with youth organizations and lends her voice to issues impacting children. Denise has consistently worked in her community to promote civic engagement and her optimism, passion, and empathy for others have inspired everyone around her to become forces for good in the community. Stacey Costello is a talented and passionate community servant whose hard work and dedication have completely transformed the presence and role of her local county library. For the last five years, Stacey has been the Director of Library Services in Colusa County where she has enhanced existing programs, created new programs, remodeled the library, and worked tirelessly to ensure the library remains an integral part of the community. Some of her additions include a summer free lunch program for children under 18, a financial literacy program, a U.S. Census hub, and annual citizenship workshops. During the trying times of adjusting to life with a global pandemic, Stacey quickly adapted to the regulations that affected the library. She made story times digital, established curbside pick-up services, and implemented an appointment system so individuals would still have access to computers, copiers, and other library resources. Stacey's impressive efforts earned her the California State Library's ``Outstanding Librarian in Support of Literacy'' award in 2018 and a place on the Virginia Yerxa Community Read committee, which she now runs. She has transformed the role of the local library from a place where books are stored to an active community center that caters to adults and children of all ages and abilities. Her creative talent and ability to spread her positive energy to others has made her a crucial asset to her community. Yvonne Cox is a beloved figure in her community. Living in an area faced with high rates of crime, drug and alcohol abuse, and poverty, she made it her goal to provide children and young adults with a safe place within their community. She understood the importance of providing young adults a supportive location with understanding people to turn to when they were not in school. In 1999, she launched a weekly Tuesday dinner for anyone and everyone who cared to join. In 21 years, Yvonne has never skipped a Tuesday. Her motto is ``Come and serve or be served'' and she ensures that everyone knows they can find a safe place with her. This achievement has not received any financial support or recognition, nor has Yvonne ever asked for assistance. Outside of her work helping the youth in her community, Yvonne owns a cafe that enables her to further help those in need. She opens her parking lot to trailers and cars for evacuees during wildfires, opens her cafe as a warm place for food in the winter months, and has even opened her home to six children under the age of 14 to call their home. Yvonne works closely with many other organizations, including North Coast Opportunities (NCO), Clearlake Senior Center, Sunrise Special Services, and many local grocery stores and markets. Yvonne's selflessness is an inspiration to many within her community. She is a positive role model for children and adults alike, demonstrating what it means to be a selfless, empathetic, and passionate member of the community. Lois Cross' work in our community has enriched the lives of countless residents from all walks of life. As the System Line Director for Sutter Health and a Sutter Medical Foundation leader she has dramatically expanded the Walk-In Clinic (WIC) network, overseeing the opening of 10 WIC's in the Valley Operating Unit alone. She now directs the 27 Walk-In Clinics throughout the Sutter Health footprint. With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, her role and responsibilities have only increased. By partnering with local military bases, Travis AFB and Beale AFB, Lois has been able to provide video visits to military personnel for evening and weekend care, connecting 15,000 military service members and their families. Beyond her professional work, Lois has served as the President of the Dixon Rotary Club, Assistant District Governor for Rotary District 5160, President of the American Case Management Association for Northern California, Professor at Samuel Merritt School of Nursing, and as a national speaker on the topic of the Affordable Care Act. Furthermore, Lois stands out for her emphasis on the professional development of others; she cares deeply for her teams and works tirelessly to make sure others have professional development and training opportunities. It is precisely this caring and generous mindset that has enabled her to have a positive impact on thousands of lives throughout the district. Rachel Davidson consistently brings care, compassion, and dedication to the work she does. Six years ago, Rachel began as a Case Manager for the Sacramento Downtown Streets Program where she worked with individuals facing homelessness to find the care and resources they need. Through her demonstrated hard work and respect for the organization's mission, she became the Sacramento Area Director. Through her work, she has helped thousands of Californians find new hope by guiding them out of homelessness, and into steady employment. Her work enables those in need to find the resources that can help them get back on their feet. Rachel treats everyone she meets with the same respect and compassion, regardless of their situation in life. This caring attitude makes her an invaluable member of her organization and a universally respected leader. The work she does empowering those facing homelessness has not only shaped the lives of countless individuals but has had a far-reaching impact on the larger community. Narinder Dhaliwal has served her adopted community of Yuba City in a profound and meaningful way since first immigrating from England in 1995. Narinder has spent her career in the field of public health and has worked tirelessly to promote improved health and quality of life for all those in her community and beyond. As Project Director for the Education, Training & Research program of California's Clean Air Project, she devoted her passion and expertise to educating tribal communities and young students on the harmful effects of tobacco use and secondhand smoke. She has been recognized many times for her success promoting smoke-free environments and forging invaluable relationships with many of California's tribal communities based on compassion and mutual respect. Narinder has also served as a board member for numerous important organizations, such as the National Child Safety Board, the Peach Tree Health Care System, the Sutter Performing Arts Association, Friends of Yuba City Parks & Recreation, and she currently serves as President of the Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture Board of Directors. She has been instrumental in securing important grants enabling countless community projects and programs. Beyond her community service, Narinder is a role-model and mentor to women of all ages and backgrounds, and is known to be a kind and passionate force in her community. Anne Marie Flynn has dedicated her career to organizations aimed at helping those most in need. Anne Marie spent seven years working in community development abroad before returning to Davis where she brought her passion and expertise to her own community. Over the years she has worked with many non-profit organizations, including the Rural Community Services Corporation, the Yolo County Food Bank, and the UC Davis program for Regional Change. She is now the Community Development Officer for Mutual Housing California, where she has helped the organization become one of the highest-quality affordable housing developers in the state. Anne Marie has spearheaded numerous programs that have helped residents to improve their financial standing and given them a brighter outlook on higher education. She also oversees fundraising and grant-writing efforts, and advocates tirelessly for increased funding for affordable housing. Under her leadership, residents and staff have built a community around civic engagement that is actively invested in their future. Anne Marie is a talented and dedicated leader determined to build a strong and thriving community. During the COVID-19 pandemic she has put her skill and expertise to work, organizing the delivery of over 30,000 meals to her residents, and ensuring that everyone was taken care of. Outside of work, Anne Marie volunteers her time with organizations such as the Davis Phoenix Coalition and Show Up for Racial Justice, organizations that work towards a more just and equal society. Anne Marie is a passionate, dedicated, and kind community servant whose work has had an impact throughout her community and around the world. Andrea Garcia has brought hard work and dedication to everything she does; from the beginning of her career raising twins and pursuing higher education, to her current extensive involvement in community leadership. Andrea served as President of the Solano Soccer Club where she took the opportunity to keep children actively engaged in a community activity and ensured that they were surrounded by positive role models. Recently, she was appointed to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission for the National U.S. Youth Soccer League. For years, Andrea has been a strong advocate for minority communities and worked tirelessly to promote diversity wherever she could. As President of the Solano Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, she created an environment of inclusivity and empowerment and spearheaded the fundraising efforts for the ``Inspire Learning'' scholarship program which enabled Hispanic students to pursue higher education. As Associate Vice President of University Advancement for Touro University, Andrea helped create the Mosaic Celebration, a fundraiser which has raised over $500,000 and awarded scholarships to 25 students with diverse backgrounds to help with college tuition. Just this year, Andrea has been a part of multiple community efforts, lending her time and expertise to the Touro University Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Commission, and the Suisun City Economic Pandemic Impact Committee. Andrea is an accomplished community leader and role model with an unyielding work ethic, charitable heart, and compassionate disposition. Neena Gill will be remembered as a tireless community leader whose constant smile and ceaseless gratitude brought joy to all around her. A Punjabi immigrant, Neena was an integral part of the Yuba-Sutter community. She and her beloved husband Kash are known in the community for farming peaches, prunes, walnuts, and almonds. Neena was also known for her dedication to her students at the Yuba Community College. For the last 30 years she was an academic counselor and professor who advocated tirelessly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. She gave them the courage and direction to succeed in their academic endeavors and pursue their passions. She exemplified this to such a degree that Yuba College created the Neena Gill Spirit Award in her honor, to annually award one Yuba College member who displays spirit and love for their students. Neena was also a strong advocate for women's health, raising over $75,000 to procure a 3D Toma Imaging Machine to assist in Breast Cancer diagnoses. While she herself had her own battle with breast cancer, she did not let it inhibit her courage and relentless dedication to helping those in need. Neena's legacy will continue to reverberate within the campus of Yuba Community College and the greater Yuba-Sutter area. It is my distinct honor to award posthumously the 2020 Woman of the Year Award to Neena Gill. Nicole Howell devotes herself with unparalleled enthusiasm to making her community a better place, especially for the elderly, English as a Second Language learners, and those facing socio-economic hardship. Her choice of career was driven by the experiences and memory of her grandmother, a Native American woman who faced many of the same struggles Nicole works every day to alleviate. For well over a decade, she has worked within the non-profit sector building programs, teams, and resource networks to educate communities and combat ageism. Nicole's belief in the power and equity of shared leadership has allowed her to thrive as the Executive Director for Ombudsman Services of Contra Costa, Solano, and Alameda (OSCCSA), where she is responsible for ensuring that nearly 29,000 long-term care residents and their families have access to the highest level of care and are treated with respect and dignity. During her tenure as Executive Director, Nicole has grown the OSCCSA's budget by over 600 percent while spearheading new programs such as the Solano Elder Justice Program, Telephone Reassurance, Residents' Rights, and Healthcare Career Pathways. Furthermore, her passion, dedication, drive, and expertise have helped Solano County tremendously in combatting COVID-19 and protecting our communities' elderly. At the beginning of the pandemic, she worked to distribute PPE to over 15,000 residents in long-term care and educate the public on the risks of COVID-19 to older adults. Nicole's dedication to culture-changing initiatives and person-centered care philosophies have made her an indispensable part of building healthy communities. Her work advocating for some of our community's most vulnerable members has directly benefited countless individuals. Sara Johnson has been a staunch advocate for the disadvantaged and incarcerated in Yolo County. As head of the Post-Conviction Relief Unit of the Yolo County Public Defender's Office, Sara works tirelessly on behalf of rehabilitated and incarcerated individuals. She devotes her time and energy to giving hope and assistance to those in prison, ensuring that they are not left without help following a conviction. This work has always been important, but during the Coronavirus pandemic, her advocacy on behalf of medically vulnerable clients has been absolutely critical. She exhausted every option open to those seeking post-conviction relief and successfully secured the release of several eligible community members. As a Disaster Services Worker during the pandemic, Sara also worked with Project Room Key, the state effort to house at-risk homeless individuals and prevent the further spread of COVID-19. She oversaw the care of over 30 individuals affected by homelessness, advocating for their needs. She has also volunteered her time with the Yolo Food Bank and other efforts to assist those in need throughout her community. Sara is known by her peers as a model community servant whose work is both meaningful on an individual level as well as having far-reaching impact within her community. I congratulate each of them and commend them for their work. I am inspired by them and firmly believe when women succeed, America succeeds!

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 2020 Women of the Year. The honorees represent some of the most outstanding and dedicated women in the 3rd Congressional District. Nominated by their peers, these women and the leadership they have provided are being recognized for playing an integral and crucial role in improving the lives of everyone in their communities. This year, we mark the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing and protecting women's constitutional right to vote. Since then, our nation has seen women take great strides in every American industry from business to politics to the arts. This progress has not come easy and many women who have come before have worked hard and strived to achieve the independence and rights women have today. Though there is more work to be done to ensure that women have equal pay, flexible work schedules, and affordable education, each of the honorees will be a vital part of the work to get there. 2020's Women of the Year are: Dawn La Bar is a dedicated public servant who has played a key role in her community's development. She has worked in the Fairfield City Manager's Office since 2011, where she has been at the heart of critical city efforts, such as the development and implementation of the City's Legislative platform, community revitalization projects, and affordable housing programs. Dawn uses her skill and expertise to bring together local and regional stakeholders to increase funding opportunities and further important projects. Recently she has taken on the crucial task of addressing homelessness in the Fairfield area and works tirelessly to provide those experiencing homelessness with the best possible outcomes. As the leader of the City's Homeless Services Division, she brings people together from all levels of government and industry to achieve a common goal. During the COVID-19 pandemic, her work became that much more critical, and she embraced the opportunity to build Fairfield's Project Room Key which secured shelter for so many at-risk individuals. Building on that momentum, Dawn helped lead an initiative to open an emergency shelter and secured additional funding to ensure individuals would have the opportunity to move on to permanent housing. Dawn's work, both throughout her career and during this pandemic, has had an incredibly positive impact on her community. Janet Lacy is recognized throughout the region for her musical ability, mentorship, kindness, and dedication to the Orland community. As pianist and organist of the local Federated Church of Orland, Janet has used her musical talents to awe and inspire ever since she came to Orland in the 1980s. Her kindness, patience, and commitment have allowed her to excel at mentoring local youth with an interest in developing their musical abilities. Janet's musical accompaniments can be found at nearly every community wedding or funeral in Orland, while her talent and patience have been foundational to the local community choir, The Glenn Chorale. She also volunteers her time as a docent at the Orland Art Center where she shares her artistic knowledge with visitors. Janet is also a member, and has served as President for several terms, of the Women's Improvement Club. In that role, she has spent her time furthering the group's mission, providing scholarships for local high school seniors, supporting the Orland Fire Department, Library, and Glenn County Senior Nutrition Center. In recognition of her special place in the hearts of her friends and neighbors, Janet has been selected as Orland Citizen of the Year and served as the Grand Marshall in the fall parade. Janet is a treasured member of the community and an indispensable resource for every group she serves. With her vast array of accomplishments and caring spirit, Janet serves as a shining example of philanthropic generosity and passionate service to everyone in her community. Her work on behalf of women, children, and families in her community will have a lasting impact on generations to come. Kathlan Latimer has dedicated her life to education. Beyond her 27 years as a teacher in the Fairfield-Suisun School District, Kathlan has worked to help other teachers bring quality education to their students. Through her work over the past 12 years as a lecturer at UC Davis, and as a curriculum coach with the California Department of Education, Kathlan has had a positive impact on education programs throughout California. Kathlan's passion for education stems from a desire to improve the lives of every one of her students. She has long been a supporter of science and math educational programs, particularly focusing on underserved communities, working to ensure that all students have equitable access to STEM careers. To this end, Kathlan has worked as a mathematics coach and served on boards of professional mathematics educators at the county, state, and national levels. In addition to her tireless work in support of STEM education, Kathlan has been an invaluable resource to college students interested in pursuing a career in education. Imbuing these students with the same passion that has been the foundation of her career, Kathlan has been a mentor to many aspiring teachers and secured internships for countless more at local schools. Kathlan's career and volunteer work has had an immeasurable impact on the lives of countless students and serves as a model to all future educators. Leticia Quirarte is a passionate activist dedicated to serving her community. Leticia spends her time as a certified Covered California enrollment counselor with the Winters Healthcare Foundation where she helps residents in her community find the necessary resources to have healthy and long lives. Leticia's expertise in healthcare advising is most evident through her crucial role in the Winters Healthcare Foundation's Promotora program, actively advocating for the health of local migrant seasonal farm workers. Serving as one of the founders and current president to the Winters Hispanic Advisory Committee, Leticia helps provide health education and devotes her time to helping her community members promote housing that is both inclusionary and affordable. Serving as an organizer for events like the Festival de la Comunidad and Dia de los Muertos, Leticia helps to bring 3,000 residents together to rally behind the Hispanic Advisory Committee. Passionate about improving the lives of immigrants, Leticia and the Hispanic Advisory Committee have sponsored annual citizenship programs to help people on the path to becoming a citizen. Leticia's philanthropic leadership in the Hispanic Advisory Committee has enabled the group to sponsor organizations throughout Winters such as AYSO soccer, the Winters Swim Team, Putah Creek Council student internship stipends, and the Winters' Munchkin Camp. Leticia's care and commitment to her community can be felt by many and her work will have a lasting impact for years to come. Dr. Phuong Luu has served both Yuba and Sutter counties as the bi- county health officer since early January, working tirelessly to ensure the health of the communities in both counties. Dr. Luu began the position of health officer at a time when COVID-19 was still a mysterious virus with infections concentrated in Wuhan, China. As the threat of a global pandemic became apparent, Dr. Luu met with community groups of all sizes to ensure that concerns were addressed, awareness of the disease spread, and to ensure the health of every community under her care. Dr. Luu brought a top tier education and years of public health leadership experience to her role of bi-county health officer, and despite having very little time in the position at the start of the outbreak, she was well prepared to hit the ground running. Dr. Luu had served previously as the Director of Public Health in the Northern Mariana Islands where she oversaw the preparations, response, and recovery effort for the deadly Typhoon Yutu. This high-pressure experience prepared her well to do the work necessary in a global pandemic. Dr. Luu has been instrumental in developing all public health policy in her community, working with community leaders such as parent- teacher organizations, local medical associations, the chamber of commerce, and Beale Air Force Base leadership. Dr. Luu's contributions to both Yuba and Sutter counties will be felt for years to come, not only through her continued efforts to ensure the health of the bi- county area, but also in the lives that she has helped protect throughout this pandemic. Barbara Mann has been a dedicated community servant for years, bringing time, dedication, and leadership to countless organizations throughout Glenn County. As a former president of the local Parent Teacher Association, she worked to promote the welfare of students in her community. Her passion for education was passed on to her two daughters who became public school teachers. Barbara has also served as treasurer for the Stonyford Horseman's Association and a board member for the historical Willows Lamb Derby, helping to preserve a community tradition over 80 years old. Barbara's work also includes serving on the Willows Planning Commission, the Glenn County Elections Board, and the Willows Museum Board. Her current work as President of the Glenn County Seniors organization is more vital now than ever, as she helps ensure that seniors in her community have regular access to nutritious meals. Barbara has made an impact on every organization where she gave her time and is known throughout her community as a positive role model to all. Corkey Mapalo has unparalleled passion and dedication to helping those in need. She has worked at the Yolo County Food Bank for over a decade, both as a dedicated volunteer and an invaluable employee. Having retired from the County of Yolo, Corkey began volunteering at the food bank, where she found a passion for their mission. She is now a dedicated Director of Operations for the Yolo County Food Bank where she works with her colleagues to alleviate hunger and food insecurity throughout her community. Though always important, her work has never seemed more urgent than during the current Coronavirus pandemic. As need for food assistance has increased in recent months, Corkey has met the challenge head on, seeking out any opportunity for increased funding, greater donations, or increased distribution capacity. In just the past six months, Corkey has led the Yolo County Food Bank team to distribute more than five million pounds of food and is responsible for helping to feed over 45,000 residents of Yolo County each month. In addition to food distribution, Corkey has led efforts to distribute other essential items, most recently devoting her weekends to collecting and distributing essential supplies to victims of the LNU Complex fire. Corkey's devoted service is responsible for helping countless seniors, children, and residents of Yolo County. Julie Martin is a natural leader who has consistently dedicated her time and talent to improving the lives of those in need. The founder of the Yolo County chapter of 100+ Women Who Care, Julie has been instrumental in organizing large-scale philanthropic campaigns, volunteering her time and energy to ensuring that local non-profit organizations receive the funding they need to carry out their missions. 100+ Women Who Care is an organization dedicated to organizing contributions from women in the community into a bulk grant for Yolo County non-profit groups. Though the group's original goal was to maintain a membership of 100 women who could each donate $100 every three months, it has flourished under Julie's leadership, far exceeding that original benchmark for success. The group has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years to community groups in need, often providing a financial influx at a critical time. Though it would have been easy to allow the group to fall by the wayside when the current pandemic made in-person meetings impossible, Julie and her steering committee realized that the need for their philanthropic work was now more important than ever. Since the onset of the pandemic, 100+ Women Who Care has donated tens of thousands of dollars to STEAC and to the Yolo Food Bank, enabling these organizations to continue their vital work when the community is most in need. Through her work with 100+ Women Who Care and her many other volunteer efforts, Julie has had an immeasurable impact on her own community and beyond. Alice McBride is a dynamic and gifted community leader who has been empowering others to fulfill their potential for decades. Highly respected throughout the Solano community, Alice is a teacher, preacher, coach, mentor, and consultant who selflessly draws on her own knowledge, experience, and wisdom to grow the lives of others. Her talents and inspirational leadership make her a sought-after speaker. As Founder and CEO of the Angelic Tabernacle of Christ Universal Outreach Ministries, Alice has created numerous other ministries to provide aid to the community, including the Divine Women Walking in Their Divine Destiny Conference, the Men of Valor Conference, Olives Around the Table, and the Kenya Internal Network Outreach. For over 20 years, Alice has done important work through the Youth 18Teen-20 Years program, which seeks to avail young adults in need of resources required to succeed in school. She also selflessly serves as a Volunteer Hospital Chapel Coordinator with David Grant USAF Medical Group at Travis AFB. Here, she brings to bear her extraordinary patience, dignity, and emotional touch to help those who have lost a loved one progress through grief. Alice's grace and professionalism have helped countless people process loss and go on to find strength and fortitude. As a mother of three, grandmother of five, and now a great-grandmother, Alice's family spans five blessed generations. Alice's kindness, generosity, and inspirational leadership will have an impact for generations to come. Janie Nall is a dedicated community leader who is committed to serving those who serve their country. She is known throughout her community for her knowledge, leadership, and extraordinary achievements. She has given her time and expertise to countless community organizations, including the Yuba-Sutter Arts Council, Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, Marysville Chinese Community, and the boards for Rideout and Sutter North Health Groups. Her passion for serving our men and women in uniform, combined with her incredible knowledge of issues of national defense have made her an invaluable member of the Beale Military Liaison Council, the California Governor's Military Council, the Air Combat Commander's Group, and the Air Force Civic Leader Group. Those at Beale Air Force Base know Janie to be a patriotic advocate for the base, servicemembers, their families, and the surrounding community. She currently serves as the Chair of the Beale Military Liaison Council, helping to raise over a million dollars for much needed improvements on base. Through her work, she helps raise the morale of the airmen and has a direct impact on base readiness, helping them to carry out their important mission. As a member of the Air Combat Command Commander's Group, Janie has brought invaluable leadership and insight to serious issues of national defense. In this role she also mentored others, helping them to grasp the importance of the Beale Air Force Base mission to the community and the nation. Her work ensures a legacy of leaders who support our men and women in uniform. As Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, I have had many occasions to work with Janie and know the incredible value of her perspective. Janie's work on behalf of her community and her country cannot be overstated and her contributions will leave a lasting impact for years to come. Betty Nelson is a dedicated and passionate community servant who is driven to leave her community better off than how she found it. Over the years she has instilled this same drive in many young girls through her work as a Girl Scout troop leader. She taught them the importance of giving and serving and led by example. Betty has also worked at the Casa de Esperanza for the past 32 years, where she helps to educate the community and prevent domestic violence and sexual assault. Her unflagging energy and commitment to helping survivors has made her an invaluable member of the team. As a volunteer for Casa de Esperanza, Betty used her experience coming from a military family to pioneer the organization's outreach to Beale and Travis Air Force Bases. As part of this program, Betty trained the bases' First Sergeants and Lieutenants, helping to construct the first Sexual Assault Response Teams on these bases. This work leaves an incredibly important and lasting legacy. Betty now serves as the finance director and volunteer coordinator for Casa de Esperanza where she has trained countless volunteers, helping to expand the role and capabilities of the organization. Betty has provided decades of invaluable leadership and service to her community and her positive impact cannot be overstated. Jenette Ochsner's dedicated volunteer work has helped to build strong community bonds across cultural divides. Her work with both the Multicultural Women's Dance and the Sutter County Library Literary Services has helped shape the cultural vibrancy of her community. As a volunteer for the Sutter County Library, Jenette has served as a tutor both for the Citizenship Preparation and the Adult ESL classes, using her skills as an instructor to help those in her community become citizens. These classes are not only a steppingstone for citizenship, but for many these ESL classes provide the English skills needed to help with future employment prospects and other important goals. Her commitment to these individuals goes above and beyond her classroom duties, leading her to help many obtain their drivers licenses and take other steps to build independence. Jenette's passion for cultural diversity has led her to volunteer coordinating the Multicultural Women's Dance for the past six years. The Multicultural Women's Dance is a long-running event that encourages participants to share the dances and fashions of their cultures, build friendships across different communities, and promote the importance of diversity. Jenette's work building community for new immigrants and encouraging others to share their cultural heritage is a model of acceptance for all who know her. Susan Rotchy is a devoted advocate for people with disabilities and has been instrumental in securing increased funding for medical research. After becoming paralyzed from an automobile accident 19 years ago, Susan began her activism at the community college, when she successfully compelled them to become ADA compliant. Realizing her ability to inspire change, she put her unique perspective to work by advocating for important legislative change. Through her work with Californians for Cures, she helped pass the Roman Reed Spinal Injury Research Act of 2000, as well as the Stem Cell Research and Cures Act of 2004. Susan also co-founded the non-profit organization, Research for the Cure, which raises money to fund research into neurological diseases and conditions. All told, her personal experience of living with a disability, combined with her wealth of experience working with her peers has endowed her with an intimate knowledge of the needs and issues facing disabled individuals. This expertise has enabled her to offer guidance to countless advisory committees and organizations throughout Solano County, including the In-Home Support Services committee, the Solano Transportation Authority for Seniors and Disabilities, and the Consolidated Transportation Advisory. Her dedication was recognized in 2007, when she was named Miss Wheelchair California based on her advocacy, achievement, and representation of Californians living with disabilities. Susan is a vital member of the community whose resiliency and advocacy for others is an inspiration to all who meet her. Julie Shepherd is a dedicated volunteer and strong leader who has made lasting contributions throughout her community. As treasurer of the Sutter Youth Organization, Julie works to create an active community by helping to maintain facilities for youth sports, recreational activities, and schools. She plays a key role in the organization's fundraising efforts, ensuring a treasured institution will continue serving the city of Sutter. Her work enables the Sutter Youth Organization to remain a core part of the community, providing a central venue for important programs and events to take place. Julie also serves as the treasurer of the Yuba City Type 1 Diabetes Support Group seeking to create a safe space for those living with Diabetes in Yuba City. In addition to these leadership roles, Julie volunteers for several organizations in her community, giving her time and dedication to the annual Bike Around the Buttes event which aims to raise diabetes awareness, leading arts and crafts events with Yuba Sutter 4H, volunteering with Sutter County Friends of the Library, and supporting Brittan School and Sutter Union High School events. Julie's work and volunteerism has touched countless individuals and left a lasting impact on her community. I congratulate each of them and commend them for their work. I am inspired by them and firmly believe when women succeed, America succeeds!