John Garamendi

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition of H.R. 5781, yet another California water-grab bill. If enacted, H.R. 5781 would dictate specific actions for water management agencies' experts to take while undermining state water rights and state environmental laws. These directives would eliminate flexibility in the system by making it more difficult for state and federal agencies to make real-time, science-based decisions to address the drought. In addition to my colleagues speaking out against the bill today, the Administration issued a Statement of Administration Policy on the bill which states: H.R. 5781 makes operational determinations regarding the use of limited water resources during the ongoing drought, and contains many new provisions that could lead to unintended consequences or further litigation, the Administration cannot support the bill in its current form. Further, the Administration highlighted its ongoing work to address the drought: The United States Department of Agriculture has directed millions of dollars in food, conservation, and emergency water assistance to tens of thousands of residents in areas hardest hit by drought. The Bureau of Reclamation has provided cost-share assistance for nine water reclamation and reuse projects in the State as well as millions of dollars in grants to build long-term resiliency to drought. . . . The President has directed Federal agencies to work with state and local officials in real-time to maximize limited water supplies, prioritize public health and safety, meet state water quality requirements, and ensure a balanced approach to providing for the water needs of people, agriculture, businesses, power, imperiled species and the environment. Instead of legislating how the current dwindling supply of water should be moved within the state, we should follow the Administration's lead and fund conservation, recycling, and storage projects to create new water. Additionally, over 30 environmental, natural resource, and fishing groups sent letters of opposition to H.R. 5781 to Congress. Fishing industry groups oppose the bill because: The bill would undermine existing legal protections for salmon, endangered species, and other species in the Bay- Delta ecosystem, in order to pump more water out of the most important salmon producing system south of the Columbia River. For example, the bill would rewrite and override protections required under the Endangered Species Act and replace the best available science with political micro- management.'' Authors of H.R. 5781 believe it will boost the economy in part of California, but in this haphazard attempt at amelioration, they risk eliminating jobs in the $1.4 billion salmon industry by, jobs in the Delta tourism industry, and jobs in Northern California agriculture. Natural resource and bird organizations oppose the bill because of the devastating impact it could have on migratory birds and other fish and wildlife in the Bay-Delta estuary. According to these groups: California has already lost more than 90 percent of its existing wetlands and in the current drought conditions, migratory birds are crowding onto the small remaining habitat areas, suffering from decreased food and increased risk of disease. With at least a billion birds migrating along the Pacific Flyway each year, we cannot afford to eliminate even more habitat. We must ensure water supplies are properly balanced for all needs and mandating exports to water users south of the Delta will not achieve this balance. In addition to being deeply flawed, this bill is being rammed through at the last minute. Introduced just last week, this bill is circumventing all regular order and will be voted on despite having no hearings and no mark-ups. As the Sacramento Bee states, ``The new bill deserves a full public hearing so that we know its full implications for California.'' As I have stated before, this drought is caused by nature--something so painfully obvious, it can be seen from space. Circumventing science and legislating how to operate a water system is irresponsible and we must find ways to add to our water supply instead of taking water from one group and giving to another for political gain. For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I rise in strong support of H.R. 5769, the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act. As explained by previous speakers, this bill is bipartisan, bicameral, and is noncontroversial. It reauthorizes the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Reserve and the Federal Maritime Commission. The legislation includes many important provisions that were contained in H.R. 4005, the Coast Guard authorization legislation that was passed and reported by voice vote from the committee, as well as overwhelming support here on the floor on April 1 of this year. Maintaining a safe, reliable, and efficient maritime commerce that enables our foreign and domestic trade to fuel the U.S. economy remains as important today as it was in 1790, when former Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton established the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service, the predecessor to the U.S. Coast Guard. This new legislation will provide our Coast Guard with the resources and policy tools they need to meet the challenges presented by an ever- evolving economy and security demands of our Nation. First, let me explain. A sincere gratitude to my colleague, Duncan Hunter, the chair of the subcommittee, for the work that he and his extraordinary staff have done in putting together this bill. Working together, I think we have accomplished something useful. Mr. Rahall's leadership on our side was exemplary. He gave us the resources, the time, and the encouragement to get this job done, and that was repeated by Mr. Shuster on the other side. We have a great team, and I am proud to be part of it. This is a compromise to be sure, but it is a good one. First and foremost, the bill includes several noncontroversial administrative and management directives to better align the Coast Guard missions and needs with the long-term capital planning and annual budget requests. Additionally, the bill would grant the Coast Guard with greater flexibility to augment Active Duty forces and provide explicit cooperative agreement authority to enhance the Coast Guard's ability to develop beneficial partnerships with other maritime stakeholders. The bill provides new guidance to the Coast Guard as it continues to rebuild its fleet of offshore cutters. I am particularly pleased this legislation would advance several positive initiatives to reinvigorate the U.S. merchant marine and improve maritime transportation. Most noteworthy, this legislation would advance several positive policy initiatives, among them the enforcement of cargo preference laws and regulations, a move that is long overdue. Additionally, the legislation requires the Department of Transportation to develop a new maritime strategy and direct the Government Accountability Office to conduct an assessment of how future export trade can be augmented. I welcome the opportunities to chart new courses forward to improve the competitiveness of the U.S. flag fleet on the high seas, to increase opportunities for short sea shipping, and to expand our commercial shipbuilding industrial base. I am pleased that this legislation will advance significant new policies already discussed by Mr. Hunter to finally force the Federal Government and the Coast Guard especially to take constructive actions to address the implications of the thawing of the Arctic Ocean and the imminent demands for commercial maritime transportation and resource development across that vast region. A particular shout-out to Mr. Hunter for leading the charge on this very important effort. In closing, this bill is responsible legislation that would provide budget stability for the Coast Guard, advance sensible policy reforms, and promote our merchant marine. The bill deserves support from Members from both sides of the aisle.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. I thank you very much, Mr. Tonko, for joining us tonight. I also thank my colleagues, Mr. Fattah from Pennsylvania and Ms. Speier from California, for joining us on this important subject. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GARAMENDI. Sure.

Mr. GARAMENDI. Well, thank you so very, very much. I am going to turn to my colleague from our normal East-West dialogue here that we have done so many days, so many times over the last few years. Mr. Tonko, thank you so very much for joining us once again as we talk this time about--we usually talk about jobs and the economy and how we can build it, but this time we are talking about Alzheimer's, so please.

Mr. GARAMENDI. Thank you so very much, Mr. Fattah, and thank you for your role on the Appropriations Committee trying to move the money into this research so that we can address this. You mentioned the Staglins out in California and their project, which is the One Mind project, our former colleague Mr. Kennedy involved in that project, trying to pull together the research from around the world and here in the United States specifically, so that there is a sharing of knowledge back and forth from these various research centers, so that the synergy would come from the knowledge that may exist at Cal Tech or New York, which we will undoubtedly hear about in a few moments, or in your country out in Pennsylvania.

Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, tonight, I want to spend some time with my colleagues discussing something that we actually can do for every American family, something that the Congress of the United States can take action on soon, like this week, when we pass our appropriations bill or, perhaps, next week if we fail to get the job done this week. We can help every American family tomorrow, the next day, and on into the years out ahead if we take action. The subject matter of tonight is about an issue that affects every American family wherever you are out there--my own family, your family, the families of my staff, perhaps even the families of those who are working with us tonight. This is an illness. This is an illness that has become the most expensive and will soon become the most pervasive illness in America. It is Alzheimer's. It is dementia associated with Alzheimer's. It is a devastating illness. It is one that robs individuals of their mental abilities. It robs them of their memories of their families, of their work, of their lives. It confuses and muddles their thoughts, and eventually, it will destroy that individual, so tonight, we talk about Alzheimer's. Is there anyone out there, any family, any individual, who hasn't seen this illness? I think we all have. Let's get into it in some detail. A little later, as my colleagues join us, we will continue the discussion and talk about what we can do--your Representatives. There are 535 of us--435 here in the House of Representatives from every part of this Nation and from every walk of life and from every community, and there are the 100 Senators from every State. Let's use some of these charts to see if we can get a better fix on what we are actually facing here in America. Let's see. Alzheimer's is the most expensive disease in America. One in five Medicare dollars is currently spent on people with Alzheimer's, 20 percent of every Medicare dollar. In fact, the total cost of Alzheimer's today--this year, 2014--is over $215 billion--a quarter of a trillion dollars. More and more of that money will come from Medicare as the baby boom population begins to move into its more senior years. This illness is not just found in seniors. We are also learning about the early onset of Alzheimer's, men and women in their thirties and forties--early Alzheimer's. Of course, it extends on, mostly in the more senior population, 60-65 and above. This is an illness that is also associated with genetics. If you have Alzheimer's in your family, there is a higher probability that you will have Alzheimer's yourself, but it is also an illness that is associated with brain damage that can occur from concussions. I think we have all heard about the National Football League players who have suffered with one form of dementia or another and who have died early because of it. We also know that traumatic brain injuries are the most common injuries found among our troops who have returned from Afghanistan and Iraq. Alzheimer's, it is there. It is very expensive. What can we look forward to in the future? Let's see. This is Medicare and Medicaid--the Federal Government expenditures--not the family expenditures, not the expenditures by health insurance companies. This is just the Federal Government. Today, it is about $122 billion. By the end of this decade, it will be $195 billion. As this wave of baby boomers passes through our demography and through our society, we expect, by the year 2050, that the Federal Government will be spending over $880 billion--$120 billion short of $1 trillion--on this illness, and this may be just two-thirds of the total cost. Well over $1.2 trillion will be spent in about 35 years on this illness. Do you want to bust the budget? Do you want to see the deficits of America soar almost uncontrollably? Then look to Alzheimer's and dementia and the effect that they will have on the Federal budget deficit. Pay attention to these numbers because these numbers are the story of the American Federal budget and of the personal budgets of families across this Nation--Alzheimer's and dementia, $880 billion of Medicare and Medicaid money by 2050. There is another way of looking at it. It is a different graph but the same story. The already high cost of Alzheimer's will skyrocket as the baby boom moves through the population. There it is: the same numbers, the same graph, the same extraordinary challenge facing America. I should also mention that this is not just an American issue; this is an issue for every advanced economy in the world. If you are able to avoid the childhood illnesses--the illnesses that kill so many in the developing world--then those economies that have advanced to the more developed economies face the exact same population surge and costs associated with Alzheimer's and dementia. What can we do about it? We can actually do a lot. I suspect, if you are looking at this on your TV screens or are here in the audience, you really only see the green line. This speaks of the treatment for Alzheimer's: today, $250 billion by Federal and local and private. On this one over here is research, treatment versus research. It is the old adage: You spend it now or spend a lot more later. A penny saved is a penny earned. What does research amount to? I have to pull this up close--oh, here it is. We are spending $122 billion to $150 billion or so of Federal and State money. What are we spending on research? $566 million. Billions? Millions? What does research amount to? It actually works. Research actually will solve problems, medical research. How long have we been at polio? I remember growing up around the issues of polio. It was very common in our communities, then some money was spent on research and a polio vaccine. You don't see polio in our communities anymore. The research worked with the development of the Salk vaccine, followed by other vaccines to treat polio. It is essentially wiped out in America. It only exists in a few very isolated places in the world. If we were to spend the money on a vaccination in those areas, we would see polio disappear from our world. The same thing happened with smallpox. I want to show you something more of today. Let's look at the research budgets for those programs that are active today: investments in health research at the National Institutes of Health, $2,014; cancer research, $5.4 billion on cancer research. Enough? Probably not. We probably could and should spend more on cancer research. Should we do so, I would suspect that we would see even more success in treating cancer in its earliest stages. HIV/AIDS, nearly $3 billion on HIV/AIDS--have we solved the problem? No, but we have certainly figured out how people can live with HIV/ AIDS, and we are probably going to see a vaccine sometime in the near future. This is what we are currently spending--nearly $3 billion--on HIV/AIDS. Cardiovascular issues--stroke, heart attacks, other kinds of cardiovascular illnesses--just around $2 billion or slightly more is spent on that. The most expensive, the most prevalent of all of the illnesses is Alzheimer's, $566 million. It's not billions--not $2 billion, not $3 billion, not $5.5 billion--but $566 million. What is the result of all of this? What does it mean when you spend this kind of money on research? It really means something very good happens, that something really, really good happens when you spend money on research. With polio research and a polio vaccine, polio is no longer found in the United States. Let's look at these major illnesses. What does it mean? What does it mean when we spend money on cancer research? Let's take a look here at deaths from major diseases and the change in the number of deaths from 2000 to 2012: breast cancer down 2 percent, prostate cancer down 8 percent. What happens when you spend $5.5 billion a year on cancer research? Cancer deaths fall--success. On heart disease--cardiovascular illnesses--we spend about $2 billion a year, and we see heart disease dropping by some 16 percent. That is deaths from heart disease dropping by 16 percent and stroke dropping by 28 percent. So what is the use of research? Well, if you want to live, it is a pretty good thing to spend money on, particularly if you are thinking about getting cancer or any of the cardiovascular illnesses: heart disease, stroke, heart attacks and the like. HIV/AIDS, do you remember that number? HIV/AIDS, nearly $3 billion was spent on HIV/AIDS, and deaths from HIV/AIDS are down 42 percent in the United States. So what does it mean when you spend money on research? It means really good things for Americans, and around the world a similar result. You spend that money on the research dealing with these major illnesses, and you will see the death rates drop all across this Nation. HIV/AIDS is down by 42 percent, spending $3 billion a year; cardiovascular, $2 billion a year. And this purple line over here, what happens when you spend $566 million a year on research for Alzheimer's? Alzheimer's deaths from 2000 to 2010 were up, increased by 68 percent. There is a story here. There is a lesson here. There is something that 535 of your Representatives, the American people's Representatives, should be paying attention to; and that is, if we want to deal with the most devastating, the most expensive, and, increasingly, the most common illness in America--the one that always will lead to death, the one for which there is no cure presently, the one for which there is not the kind of support needed for those people that suffer from Alzheimer's-- then and we had better start talking about solutions. Research is a part of it. How much do we think could be spent this year in the appropriation bills that are now coming before us? What if we were to add $200 million, about a 40 percent increase? What would it mean? It means that we will probably, over the next couple of years, begin to see profound knowledge about the human brain, about how it functions, about the diseases of the human brain, and about how we can attack Alzheimer's. I don't expect it to be done in 2 years, but I know that out there, in the mind institutions at the University of California-San Francisco, University of California-Davis, down at UCLA and in other research institutions around this Nation, we are learning how the brain functions. We are learning about the diseases of the brain. And if we were to invest this year an additional $200 million, we would see a flourishing of knowledge. And maybe, maybe in one of those research institutes, they would find the key to solving the Alzheimer's puzzle. And if they were to do so, we would see a profound reversal in these numbers; and this blue dramatic increase of 68 percent more deaths from Alzheimer's over the last decade, we would see that reverse, and hopefully we would see it go down. I would like to continue our discussion here with my colleagues. I have noticed that my colleague from California, Jackie Speier, representing the Peninsula, has arrived. I think your district comes very close to that great research institution, the University of California-San Francisco. I am not sure if it is in your district, but I know it is on the border of your district, if not in your district. Ms. Speier, if you would join us to talk about this issue, I know it has been on your mind and in your heart. You have been a leader in California and back here in Washington on this issue. So thank you so very much for joining us in our discussion about the most prevalent and the most expensive of all diseases in America.

Mr. GARAMENDI. Well, I get to represent the University of California- Davis, and it is in my district, although the hospital and the research center are not. So I guess we share the same sadness.

Mr. GARAMENDI. Thank you very much, Ms. Speier. I really appreciate you bringing the women's issue to this. The last 3 years of my mother-in-law's life were spent in our home as she went through the process of Alzheimer's. And it is, indeed, a women's issue. Two-thirds, as you say, are women. And we experienced that. Fortunately, for us, it worked out very well for us and our family. But we are not unique, and while our experience was sad but good in some ways, that is not always the case. This is a huge, huge burden. Not only are the women the ones who suffer, but the women are often the ones who care for those who have it. So I thank you so much. I notice my friends from the east coast have joined us. We often do an east-west thing here. My two friends are debating who is going to go first. Mr. Fattah, why don't you go first, and we will go from there.

Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Tonko, thank you so very much for your bringing to us the information about actions that have already been taken. The Alzheimer's plan that you discussed lays out a process by which the National Institutes of Health will develop a program of research, bring it directly to Congress so that we can then analyze it and hopefully fund that research. It is the pragmatic way of dealing with it. As you said, it is based upon a studied step-by-step process to get to the solution of Alzheimer's. There is also other legislation. Our former colleague, now Senator Markey, put together a bill that is called the HOPE Act, and that is one that would require that Medicare take specific account of Alzheimer's, and that in the Medicare program, there be a method for Medicare to fund early diagnosis of Alzheimer's and then the early treatment. As was said by one of our colleagues earlier, a delay of a couple of years or 3 or 4 years in the onset of serious Alzheimer's is extraordinarily beneficial to the individual and to the family, and, in a larger context, to the budget of the individual family, their insurance company, as well as the Federal government through Medicare and Medicaid. So that program also speaks to the caregiving that is necessary and Medicare picking this up. It is clearly going to be the illness that will bust the bank unless we can get ahead of it, and that is where the research comes into focus and into play. We can do this. There is another angle to this. I was going to take this up with Mr. Fattah when he was here. He was talking about other agencies and other governments that are involved in dealing with this. About a month ago I had the opportunity to spend about an hour with the new Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Mr. McDonald, and we were talking about the various challenges that the Department of Veterans Affairs has dealing with all of the veterans, and it wasn't long before the conversation turned to traumatic brain injury and PTSD, post-traumatic stress syndrome, both of which are illnesses or problems of the human brain. We were discussing how the Department of Veterans Affairs is dealing with this. It turns out that they also have a research budget, and we know that he was unaware of some of the research that was going on both at the NIH and what Mr. Fattah talked about, the One Mind program that our former colleague Mr. Kennedy is involved in in pulling together the research that is available around the world, bringing that research together so that the synthesis of it could be a much more rapid solution to the problems that Mr. McDonald faces in the Veterans Administration dealing with post-traumatic stress illnesses as well as traumatic brain injury. So all of these things come together, and in dealing with it, ultimately we carry a heavy burden of responsibility here in Congress.

Mr. GARAMENDI. Thank you, Mr. Tonko, for joining us in this Special Order hour. Working with you has always been a pleasure. I think this subject is one that you and I and our colleagues will want to take up as the days go forward. In the spring, the 2015 Alzheimer's Day will occur once again here in Washington, DC. There will be thousands of people coming to Congress, knocking on our doors, grabbing our lapels, and asking us to pay attention to this illness. I want to review some of the costs, and then basically wrap this up. You talked about home care. There are articles that appeared recently in The Sacramento Bee about elderly people taking care of each other, a wife taking care of her husband in their 50th year of marriage with severe Alzheimer's, the love that is so apparent, but also the difficulty of an elderly person taking care of another elderly person. We can address that. That is what the HOPE legislation is all about, bringing Medicare into this. The research thing that we talked about earlier, I am going to put up very, very quickly a couple of charts. This one, what is going to happen to the Federal budget if we do not address Alzheimer's, it is $122 billion today; in 35 years or 40 years, we are going to look at over $800 billion, and that doesn't include the private sector. It is going to be $1.2 trillion spent on this, so we are going to bust the budget. If you are a deficit hawk, you should be paying attention to this. What do we need to address it? Well, we certainly need care for the caregivers. We have talked about that. We also need research. The plan that was in the earlier legislation laying out the Alzheimer's plan called for an additional $200 million this year on top of the $566 million that we are currently spending. Keep in mind that, for cancer, it is nearly $5.5 billion; for HIV/ AIDS, nearly $3 billion; and cardiovascular illnesses, just about $2 billion annually spent in research at the National Institutes of Health. They are very good, it is very important, and not a nickel should be taken away from that, but we should add $200 million this year as we complete the appropriation process right now. People ask, ``Where can we find the money?'' Well, let's see. We just said we are going to spend $5.6 billion in Syria and Iraq--new money. I know that my work on the Armed Services Committee--I am on the Strategic Forces Subcommittee. We are talking about more than $12 billion over the next 6-7 years rebuilding a nuclear bomb that nobody knows what to do with. Maybe there are choices that we can make. Would America be better off with a new nuclear weapon or rebuilt nuclear weapon, spending $12 billion or so on that, or maybe spending it on Alzheimer's research? Our work is about choices, Mr. Tonko. How are we going to allocate the resources of this Nation? My suggestion is we go where every family in America will be affected, every family, either directly as my family has been directly impacted by this. My mother-in-law lived with us the last 3 years of her life, dying at the age of 92; yes, we were affected. We know the genetic issues. My grandchildren are looking out there and saying, ``This is a genetic thing, Papa. What about me?'' So that worry carries through our family, and I suspect it carries through every family in America, either directly or indirectly. Let's make a choice. Let's make a choice to attack with research, with care, with funding the most expensive, most common, most deadly illness in America and in other developed countries: dementia and Alzheimer's. We can do it. This is not an impossible task. This is simply a task of focusing like a laser on this issue, and when we do, we will find the same success that we have seen with heart, cancer, and HIV/AIDS-- not cured, not stopped, but a very significant drop in the deaths associated with those illnesses. Mr. Tonko, I have completed my statements tonight. I think you have another comment.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Police Officer George M. Poppe as he retires after more than 24 years of law enforcement service. Officer Poppe began his law enforcement career in 1990 as a Police Officer with the City of Albany. On November 3, 1997, he was hired as a Police Officer with the Fairfield Police Department. Officer Poppe served the community in various capacities that included Patrol, Violent Crime Suppression, and Major Crimes Investigation. Some of his most significant contributions to the Police Department have been the special assignments he held including Special Activity and Felony Enforcement (SAFE Team), Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT Team), K-9 Handler, Firearms Instructor, and Field Training Officer. Officer Poppe has received numerous commendations from citizens and coworkers, and he was awarded two Lifesaving Medals, the first in 2000 and the second in 2001, for his heroic intervention, exemplary performance and dedication to duty during two critical and life- threatening incidents. Officer Poppe has been a valued employee and his commitment to the community was evidenced on a daily basis. He is a loyal representative of the law enforcement community and admired for his hard work, dedication, and positive work ethic.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, I want today to talk about an illness that affects every American family. It is an illness that is devastating. It is Alzheimer's and related dementia. It is the most expensive illness in America today, and it will become even more expensive in the future. Today, $1 out of $5 spent by Medicare is spent treating Alzheimer's, most expensive of all our illnesses. As we look to the future, we are going to find that this disease, Alzheimer's, is going to grow over $1.5 trillion of costs by 2050, partly due to the baby boomers and their growth in the demography of this Nation, but also because of the extraordinary expense that this illness brings to us. This is the power curve that we are looking at. If you are concerned about the deficit, you need to be concerned about Alzheimer's. If you are concerned about the American family, you need to be concerned about Alzheimer's. Here is what we are looking at for what is the second biggest cost in the Federal budget, that is, Medicare and Medicaid. Here is the growth that we are looking over the period of the next 35 years, from some $122 billion to over $880 billion. As you look at the Federal budget in the years ahead, as you look at Medicare, as you begin to think about the deficit that confronts this Nation, this is where you need to look because this is where the big expenditure is going to be made. It is going to be in Alzheimer's and related illnesses to it. This is it. What can we do about this? We could sit and fuss and fume, we can take care of our seniors, or we can recognize the reality of what it means when we spend money on research, when we spend money on getting ahead of the illnesses. These are the major illnesses that confront America today. You can take a look here. Breast cancer, there has been a decrease in mortality; prostate cancer, a decrease; heart disease, a 16 percent decrease; stroke, a 23 percent decrease; and of course, HIV/AIDS, an extraordinary 42 percent decrease in the deaths from these major illnesses. Over here on the purple one on the right, Alzheimer's. Decrease? No. Increase? Sixty-eight percent increase from 2000 to 2010. This is the reality of the most prevalent and most expensive and the most devastating disease that confronts Americans and really the rest of the world. What can we do about it? Let's take a look at this chart. Alzheimer's spending treatment versus research. Let's see. We are spending $150 billion on the treatment. This is Medicare and Medicaid, and research, oh, way down here, $566 million on research. So if you want to drive the deficit to even greater depths, treat but don't do research. However, if you want to solve this problem, we know how to do it. In fact, we have done it many, many times. If you take a look at cancer, we are spending $5.418 billion on cancer research. Cancer deaths are down. HIV, we are spending $2.978 billion on HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS deaths are down by 42 percent. Cardiovascular, $2 billion. Cardiovascular deaths, strokes and heart disease down. Alzheimer's, $566 million. We know the answer. The question is whether we are willing to put our money where we can solve the most devastating, the most prevalent, and the most expensive of all illnesses. Change this little purple, bring it back up perhaps to $2 billion a year, as we do with HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular, and cancer. Spend the research money. We are close in many, many ways across this Nation with programs that are under way. Here is the specific ask that I make to this Congress: not $2 billion, but $200 million additional money in the appropriations that we are doing today--$200 million.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Captain Darrin M. Moody who is leaving the Fairfield Police Department. After serving two years with the Modesto Police Department, Captain Moody was hired as a Police Officer with the Fairfield Police Department on September 5, 1989. As an officer, he worked in various capacities that include Patrol, Youth Services, Investigations, Field Training, and Special Activity Felony Enforcement. He was promoted to Police Corporal in 1999 and became a K-9 handler in 2001. On December 24, 2004, Captain Moody was promoted to Police Sergeant and served in Patrol and Investigations before being promoted to Police Lieutenant on December 7, 2007. He was a strong and decisive leader which led to him receiving the Manager of the Year award in 2007. As a Police Lieutenant, he served as Commander for Patrol, Quality of life, and Major Crimes Bureaus, and for the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team. As the Police Department experienced changes in leadership and command staff, Captain Moody constantly stepped in and assisted City management in filling the gaps. Before being officially promoted to Police Captain on May 6, 2011, he willingly assumed the Captain's position twice and managed Patrol Operations in 2008 and 2010. Captain Moody has been a valued employee and leader and his commitment to the City and community was evidenced on a daily basis. He is commended for his selfless contribution to Fairfield and its constituents.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, Whereas, Sutter Davis Hospital (SDH) was one of three organizations in the country to receive the 2013 Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation's highest Presidential honor for performance excellence through innovation, improvement, and visionary leadership; and Whereas, Sutter Davis Hospital was selected from a field of 22 applicants that were rigorously evaluated by an independent board of examiners in seven areas defined by the Baldrige Criteria: leadership; strategic planning; customer focus; measurement, analysis and knowledge management; workforce focus; operations focus; and results. An organization may compete for the award in one of six categories: manufacturing, service, small business, health care, education and nonprofit; and Whereas, Since 1988, only 102 Baldrige awards have been presented to 96 organizations. To date, more than 1,500 U.S. organizations have applied for the Baldrige Award, and internationally, the program has served as a model for nearly 100 excellence programs; and Whereas, Thousands of organizations worldwide use the Baldrige Criteria to guide their operations, improve performance and achieve sustainable results. This improvement and innovation framework offers organizations an integrated approach to key management areas. The criteria are regularly updated to reflect the leading edge of validated management practice; and Whereas, Sutter Davis Hospital has been on a long quality journey to excellence and over the years has made significant improvements. This journey has placed SDH among the best hospitals in the nation, and has now distinguished SDH as a Baldrige winner as a result of the work accomplished by all employees, physicians and volunteers working together; and Whereas, Sutter Davis Hospital is dedicated to a patient care mission, which aims to enhance the health and well-being of people in the communities it serves, through a not-for-profit commitment to compassion and excellence in health care services; and Whereas, The community of Davis, and Yolo County as a whole, is proud of Sutter Davis Hospital for serving as a national role model for small hospitals and leading the transformation of health care to achieve the highest levels of quality, accessibility, and affordability; and Now, therefore, be it resolved that Congressman John Garamendi expresses his sincere appreciation and gratitude for the vision, leadership and organization shown by Janet Wagner, CEO, and her team of employees, physicians and volunteers at Sutter Davis Hospital, for bringing a national presidential honor to Yolo County, providing quality care to all patients and serving as a steadfast community partner.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to rare and serious autoimmune neuropathies such as Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), Multifocal Motor Neuropathy (MMN), and related conditions. These diseases cause the body's immune system to attack healthy organs and tissues. In the case of conditions like GBS, CIDP, and MMN, the immune system attacks the body's peripheral nervous system. As we find with so many ailments, awareness, recognition, and an early and accurate diagnosis are key to mitigating the serious health consequences of peripheral autoimmune neuropathies. The earlier treatment begins, the better the prognosis for the affected individual. These conditions can be progressive, and any delays in medical intervention can result in the patient being completely immobilized and using a ventilator to breathe, with the potential for residual damage and disability. Essentially, the more damage that is done to the nervous system, the longer it takes to heal. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), symptoms are related to the type of affected nerve and may be seen over a period of days, weeks, or years. Muscle weakness is the most common symptom of motor nerve damage. Other symptoms may include painful cramps and uncontrolled muscle twitching visible under the skin, muscle loss, bone degeneration, and changes in the skin, hair, and nails. NIH plays a crucial role in the effort to combat these conditions, as treatment options are limited and diagnosis can be difficult. While there are many known triggers for the conditions, the underlying causes have yet to be defined. Investment in medical research and scientific innovation is needed to identify the root cause of these conditions and to improve the lives of affected individuals. This October, the GBS/CIDP Foundation International is coordinating the 13th International Symposium on GBS, CIDP, MMN, and related conditions. This event will bring leading scientific minds, patients, and other stakeholders together with the goal of advancing our understanding of these conditions and improving care for affected individuals. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this community's ongoing effort to raise awareness and advance medical research. We extend our sincerest gratitude and strong support as these dedicated individuals come together to collectively reach toward knowledge, cures, and the promise of healthier lives for all.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, the success of our districts and the livelihood and future of our communities relies heavily on the devotion and service of those who go above the call of duty, willing to devote their time and energy to improving society and the lives of people around them. This fall, through my 2014 Women of the Year awards, I have made an effort to recognize, honor, and celebrate the vital contributions of outstanding women in my district. Each of these women exemplifies sacrifice and devotion. These civic leaders have helped improve their communities in various ways, and are compelling advocates for critical issues including education, flood protection, environmental stewardship, and the arts. They promote healthy communities, organize events to promote world peace, and raise community awareness to end bullying. They are all women in California's Third Congressional District who have succeeded in bettering their communities and the lives of those around them--living proof that when women succeed, America succeeds. Throughout our history, America's foremothers have made great strides in securing their equal rights and equal treatment under the law. And while we have come so far, there is still work to be done. We stand on the shoulders of giants, but that does not mean we should cease to reach further. Thanks to these women and others like them, I see our communities reaching further every day. Pat Ash (City Councilwoman and preservationist; Williams-- Colusa County): Pat Ash, the current mayor of Williams, has served as a Williams City Council Member for many years. She is the founding and most active member of Citizens for a Better Williams, known locally as CBW. Through her membership on the city council and in CBW, Pat has played a crucial role in beautifying vacant areas, including a parcel that was annexed into the town square park. An outstanding example of Pat's leadership and generous spirit is her preservation of the aging Masonic Hall in town. Pat recently purchased it herself, thus maintaining its historic value to the city and county. Under Pat's sustaining leadership CBW recently arranged for a mural to be painted on the Masonic Hall, adding local interest and a festive atmosphere to this popular park. On June 7th, the mayor hosted a mural dedication ceremony that featured Governor Jerry Brown and relatives of W.H. Williams, founder of the town. Through her creativity and tenacity, Pat has been instrumental in organizing Williams' Summer Concerts in the Park series featuring local musicians. The venue offers the community a place to mingle and for nonprofit groups to hold fundraisers. In further testimony to Pat's enduring appreciation for her city, she has written a book illustrating the influence of Western Europeans settling in Williams. Pat's fellow citizens appreciate her efforts to preserve and showcase the city's history. Marci Coglianese (Municipal law attorney, former city official, land use advocate; Rio Vista--Solano County): Marci Coglianese, past mayor and council member for the City of Rio Vista, has practiced municipal and environmental law for more than 25 years. Her achievements in furthering good land use planning, and environmental and risk management practices for the Delta are extraordinary. Marci represented the League of California Cities on the State Floodplain Management Task Force and on the public advisory committee to update the California Water Plan. She has been instrumental in protecting Solano County farmland and served as co-chair of the Delta Levees and Habitat Subcommittee of the Bay Delta Public Advisory Committee. She is an active member of the Rio Vista Army Base Steering Committee. Marci has always been a vocal and staunch advocate for fairness and for racial and gender equality in local government. After assuming office she was notable for her openness in listening and responding to the needs of her constituents of every political stripe and economic status. A person of the highest integrity and forthrightness, Marci sets an exemplary standard for all in political office, from the smallest village to the national capitol. Despite serious illness and family trauma, she has maintained a manner of openness, grace, and humor toward even her most bitter opponents. Marci Coglianese is greatly loved and admired by all who know her. Deborah Eernisse (Fitness instructor, mentor, and volunteer; Davis--Yolo County): Deborah's outstanding trait is her ability to build community with diverse groups of all ages, particularly around fitness and health. In Davis she has built a supportive community of older adults who remain active and engaged in their own health and happiness. Her ``Fit for Life'' program at the Davis Senior Center has reduced injuries, falls, and the need for hospitalization or skilled nursing care. Deborah graduated from UC Davis with a minor in Adult Development and Aging. She had planned to be an at-home mom, but faced with serious medical problems in her immediate family she had the foresight and strength to persevere and graduate from the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Sacramento City College. Since then she has earned a number of other certifications. Participants in Deborah's fitness classes have been able to improve their muscle tone, balance, coordination and strength in such a way that many age-related declines are slowed or prevented. Class members who have had strokes, joint replacement, fractures and similar problems are able to follow through with their long-term rehabilitation. Those with chronic conditions such as diabetes or neuropathy are able to optimize their independence and quality of life. Beyond strength, friendships are created and social support flourishes. Her classes fill up quickly and have a waiting list. Deborah also conducts a popular free yoga class for the Davis High School football team, and she has served on the board of the Davis Food Co-op. Recently she completed 30 hours of training to become part of the Davis Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Deborah is now part of a pool of volunteers ready to assist in large-scale emergencies. Gloria Estrada (Veteran advocate and peace activist; Williams--Colusa County): Gloria Estrada works tirelessly for the interests of Colusa County families, donating much of her time to organizations that benefit the community's veterans and the families of fallen soldiers. On August 11, 2011, not long after recovering from a head-on crash Gloria's son, Pfc. Rueben ``Boy'' Lopez, was killed in action by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. Since then Gloria has dedicated herself to helping families in need and advocating for peace. She celebrates her son's service and sacrifice by paying it forward. One way she has done this is by arranging for the placement of Peace Poles in each community in Colusa County. The Peace Pole serves as a symbol to remind community members that they are the peace builders. On August 11, 2014, Gloria and her family organized a ceremony on the grounds of the state capitol in Sacramento. Veterans of Colusa County traveled to the state capitol for the ceremony in which 193 full-size flags of the world were carried. A Peace Pole featuring the message ``May Peace Prevail on Earth'' in 12 different languages was presented to the People of California. Each year on the anniversary of her son's death, Gloria chooses an agency, school, or group where she hosts a celebration urging those present to celebrate life and to please pay good works forward. Gloria is a tireless community volunteer and an exceptionally loving and giving woman. Whenever someone is in need, Gloria is quick to search on their behalf. If someone needs company, Gloria is at their side with reassuring words. Those who know her well agree that each of us is a better person because we have Gloria in our life. Lee Ann Grigsby-Puente (Flood protection advocate; Hamilton City--Glenn County): As president of Reclamation District 2140 Lee Ann played a leading role in working with Congressman Garamendi and other federal, state and local representatives to secure federal funding in an Energy & Water Development appropriation to begin construction of the Hamilton City Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project. The current J Levee, now mostly in disrepair, was built in the early 1900s. The levee failed twice in the 1970s and required emergency reinforcement six times in the past 30 years. If the river floods, the homes of 2,000 Hamilton City residents are at risk, as are the farms and Highway 32. The project is multipurpose. Plans include 6.8 miles of setback levee to protect the town and farmland. The existing J levee will be ``degraded'' and 1,400 acres of land will be restored to native habitat along the Sacramento River floodplain. Thanks to Lee Ann's perseverance and effective work with elected representatives, Glenn County Sheriff Larry Jones, who serves as head of Glenn County's Office of Emergency Services, was able to say: ``I am very pleased. The project is vital to our public safety. . . . Now I can start to look forward to the time when the J Levee is no longer one of my biggest concerns.'' Lee Ann serves on the Hamilton City Task Force developing a 5-10-20 year strategic plan for the city. She is president of the Hamilton City Women's Club that leads the way in adding new civic amenities in the downtown. Mary Grimmer (School and community volunteer extraordinaire; Arbuckle--Colusa County): Mary Grimmer is an amazing woman, full of energy and passion, and extremely giving of her time and resources. For the past five years, Mary has volunteered at least 12 hours per week in the school library, helping students locate books, cataloging new books, and reminding students to return overdue ones. Each year she donates a generous number of titles to the library collection. Meanwhile, the school office can count on Mary to help with school pictures in the fall and spring of each year. Through the Parent Club, she takes the lead on ordering all of the school tee-shirts and sweatshirts that students purchase. You also will see Mary Grimmer at all kinds of events, camera around her neck, taking thousands of pictures that she shares with the students. Mary is an active 4-H leader and a member of the Arbuckle Little League where she is responsible for many aspects of the organization, including scheduling of games. She is a part-time employee of the Arbuckle Parks & Recreations Department, giving more time than she could ever be compensated for. And, when someone in the community is ill or has just had a baby, Mary graciously delivers a home- cooked meal as a show of support for them. Programs for children just don't happen. They take the dedicated people who care about kids to devote their time, energy and often their own financial resources. Mary provides initiative and the physical labor to fill the gaps. She is a beacon calling others to volunteer their time to change the lives of children. Samina Masood (Working to end poverty, homelessness, and abuse of women; Fairfield--Solano County): Since 2012 Samina Masood has partnered with the City of Fairfield to seize the twin horns of homelessness and domestic abuse in order to demonstrate that renewal is possible for homeless, abused, and neglected women and their children. Were it not for her direct intervention and program services, hundreds of women and children would go without hope, a place to live, or resurrected lives. Each year her organization, Heather House, takes in hundreds of needy and vulnerable women, then shelters and supports them. Samina resides on campus with them to run the seven-day-a week program. Empowered by their experience in a 90-day work program, they are able to leave the shelter with a job, housing, and the skills to achieve economic independence. Samina's passion and dedication are quite infectious, engaging many city leaders to join hands and work together on behalf of these at-risk local women and their children. She has served as a commissioner on the Mayor's Commission on Crime to help prevent and reduce crime in the city. Masood herself is a role model. She came to the United States as an immigrant from the third world country of Pakistan. She is a writer and published columnist with her columns appearing in the Tracy Press nationally and in the U.S. State Department Gazette. Samina has two master degrees--an MA in Communications and an MS in Clinical Psychology. In the 80s and 90s she worked for the World Health Organization, the U.S. Department of State, and U.S.- AID as an advocate for women and children. An abuse survivor herself, Samina talks openly about her childhood growing up in a county where women and children are deprived of rights. She often speaks of how she saved her own soul by fighting for other women who had no voice. She is writing a memoir. Dr. Frances Nelson (Librarian, educator, literacy advocate; Fairfield--Solano County): Frances Nelson has brought outstanding gifts to the educational community of Solano County. She is a preeminent librarian whose commitment to diversity and whose advocacy for the teaching of U.S. history and government have enriched the lives of many students and adults. Frances has a myriad of community and educational experiences over more than 15 years in Vacaville's secondary classrooms and, after her retirement, as adjunct librarian with 20 years of service at Solano Community College. She is the only African-American librarian that Solano Community College has had in its seventy-year history. Dr. Nelson has pioneered information access techniques with individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Through the California School Library Association Dr. Nelson participated on a committee that developed ``Standards for Information Literacy: Grades k-12.'' This endeavor prompted her to develop a library skill workbook and a video tape presentation on school site curriculum for a Vallejo school library. Frances travels regularly to Oakland to select as many as 75 books that she then donates to the Solano Juvenile facility. She also donates hair care products to African- American girls there when these are requested. Dr. Nelson is a newly appointed Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Commissioner for Solano County, is active in the Delta Kappa Gamma Society Beta Psi Chapter, and has served in leadership roles at her church. Dr. Frances Gholson Nelson has elevated the whole community--not just with the time she has spent in community service but in the quality of her service that counts for so much more. Gloria Partida (Advocate for restorative justice and anti- bullying activist; Davis--Yolo County): When her son was savagely attacked near downtown Davis the night of March 10, 2013 in what was deemed to be an anti-gay hate crime, Gloria Partida responded with composure and grace. She not only cared for her son Mikey's needs, physical and emotional, she led the community in a candlelight vigil coordinated by concerned community members. Mikey spent months in rehabilitation and many more in at-home care by family members relearning the tasks of daily life and receiving counseling for PTSD. Gloria faced the tragedy and its aftermath courageously and with compassion. In an October 6, 2013 editorial, ``Innocence Lost: Now where are my virtues?'' she set a powerful example, showing our community how to push back against hate crimes and bullying behaviors of all kinds: ``Having survived this magnitude of violence, my son and family became magnets for people who had suffered similar experiences and wanted to share their stories. Sadly, there were many. This produced for me, ever the optimist, an internal civil war. How could people who started out sweet and promising turn into vessels of evil? . . . What became evident to me . . . was that I needed to be responsible for more than my own children. And not just the smart, easy-to-get along with ones . . . the marginalized ones.'' Gloria attended a church meeting on the topic ``Standing Up to Hate,'' and in that meeting the Davis Phoenix Coalition was born. Gloria worked ceaselessly on the group's projects, including a March 2014 anti-bullying workshop; a screening and discussion of ``The Laramie Project'' and other awareness-raising events; find-raising and attending the ``Not in Our Town'' national gathering in Montana; designing a tee shirt and bumper sticker; writing an anti-bullying brochure . . . always turning a devastating personal event into an opportunity for community growth. Linda Plummer (Healthcare advocate, arts supporter, community volunteer; Marysville--Yuba County): Linda Plummer is known as a distinguished advocate for health care and for the arts, twin passions that merged when she created Rideout Healthy Kids. RHK is a musical theater program teaching healthy eating and exercise habits. Still in its first year, the program created seven jobs--four actors, a director and two sound technicians--and reached more than 4,000 school children in its first season. As part of her job as marketing manager for Rideout Health, Linda helps to get the word out about the newly expanded Rideout Regional Medical Center, the largest construction project in recent memory in Marysville and its neighboring communities. Linda is a dedicated steward of the project. As 30 ironworkers, eight carpenters, six deck builders, two rebar workers and 15 other laborers and inspectors worked on the structure last year, Linda observed the sudden transformation following years of planning. ``It's like Christmas,'' she said. The Yuba-Sutter Chamber of Commerce has recognized Linda for her deep community involvement. She founded the Way, Way, Way Off Broadway event to give performance opportunities to high school actors. She is a board member of the Sutter Performing Arts Association and Yuba-Sutter Arts. A past president of the Rotary Club of Yuba City, she has been involved with Friends of Yuba City Parks and Recreation; the Casa de Esperanza shelter for victims of domestic violence; Marysville Charter Academy for the Arts; and the Galena Street East performance group to encourage young artists. She was a judge for the Sacramento Regional Theater Alliance. When asked how she manages her busy schedule, she admitted: ``What schedule?'' For Linda, ``Volunteering is addictive. Whatever form it may take, volunteerism has an incurable impact on people--you see it change lives.'' Lonetta Riley (Educator and school district trustee; Yuba-- Sutter County): Lonetta Riley has served on the Yuba City Unified School District board for 16 years as District 3's representative and for the past two years as board president. Says a friend, ``you can count on Lonetta's support for the students and she stands up for teachers and the job that they try to do in these times of diminished funding.'' Lonetta Riley is the only African-American woman to ever have been elected to office in Sutter County. When asked what it was like to be the first, she always responds that ``it doesn't really matter unless I work to make sure there is a second, third and fourth.'' Lonetta began her advocacy for education in 1970 while a graduate student at the University of Nebraska where she led demonstrations to address the poor graduation rates of black athletes. As a member of the Douglas County (Nebraska) Citizens Committee, she was instrumental in bringing attention to local civil rights violations. More recently as a Juvenile Justice Commissioner for Sutter County, she has worked to raise awareness and organize efforts to address the difficult issues facing delinquent youth. She is passionate in believing that mentoring during probation is an opportunity to help individuals get their lives back on track. A criminal justice professor in the Los Rios Community College District, Lonetta is the Training Coordinator for the Regional Public Safety Training Center of American River College and guides the training of law enforcement personnel. She is a member of the Bethel AME Church, the National Urban League, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Bridges 2 Housing and other community organizations. Lonetta believes that ``if you don't use your voice for change, your silence says the status quo is okay.'' She exemplifies the adage to be the change you would like to see in the world.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following: Denise Rushing (County Supervisor and economic strategist; Upper Lake--Lake County): Denise Rushing is best known for her work as a business growth strategist. With a background in energy technology and digital marketing, Denise helps change-makers innovate, create and enter new markets consistent with their values. She has generated grassroots momentum to find renewable and regenerative solutions to environmental problems. In 2006, after living in Lake County for just 18 months, Denise was elected to the Board of Supervisors in one of the most transformative elections in Lake County history as her platform of justice and environmental stewardship resonated with voters. Lake County's economic evolution over 7\1/2\ years is a testament to Denise's leadership and evidenced by California's Green Summit Environmental Leadership Award two years in a row. One project is the largest public solar installation in the western United States; the other, ``appropriate tech'' park structures constructed with volunteer labor and all local and natural materials. Denise was instrumental in transforming a blighted trailer park into an eco-park, and a leading advocate in bringing the county's first four-year educational institution to Lucerne. She has been passionate about finding healthy solutions for improving water quality in Clear Lake and has worked collaboratively on local boards and committees, including one that brought traditional agriculture and the organic community together in a ``Food Roundtable.'' Denise was elected in a resounding fashion and, true to her promises, has effected lasting, sustainable change in Lake County and the people who live here.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following: Nicole Montna Van Vleck (Rice grower and industry leader; Sutter and Sacramento Counties): Nicole Montna Van Vleck is the managing partner of family owned and operated Montna Farms in Yuba City, a major grower of Japanese short grain specialty rice. Nicole is actively involved in all aspects of the operations from growing to drying and milling and her involvement with California agriculture is long-standing. She is a third generation Sutter County rice farmer who has been a leader in numerous associations as an advocate for the state's farmers. For more than a decade she has served on the California Rice Commission where she currently sits on the Board of Directors and on numerous committees. She is a member of the California Rice Industry Association Board and in 2011 joined the Board of Directors for American Commodity Company. From February of 2011 to July 2013, Nicole served as co-chair for the USA Rice Federation Rice Quality Task Force and remains active. She also is active in the USA Rice Producers Group. In the area of water, Nicole has leadership roles in the Northern California Water Association. She is Vice President of the Sutter Bypass Butte Slough Water Users Association, having been president for more than a decade. She is Treasurer of Garden Highway Mutual Water District. Outside of agriculture, Nicole is a member of the Board of Directors for River Valley Community Bank. Nicole is a graduate of the California Agricultural Leadership Program, and of the USA Rice Leadership Program. Early in her career she worked as a legislative analyst for the law firm of Morrison & Foerster before returning to the family farm in 1994. As Vice Chair of the California State Fair Agricultural Advisory Board, Nicole advocates for agricultural education programs for youth. She raised money for State Fair Scholarships and school tours of the State Fair Farm. Nicole is a respected leader and champion for women in agriculture statewide and for economic development in Sutter County.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following: Michelle Scully (Educator, agriculture and economic development advocate; Lake County): Michelle has a 20-year history of service to Lake County, particularly in the areas of education, agriculture, and economic development. When Michelle and her husband relocated to Lake County as he went to work in the family's pear packing and farming businesses, she quickly immersed herself in community activities. She was appointed to an advisory board tasked with researching the divisive issue of genetically modified crops. She also served on the steering committee that developed Lake County AgVenture, a program to educate community leaders on the importance of agriculture to Lake County. To address the issue of hunger, Michelle organized a very successful Bountiful Gift Box fundraiser for the county's Hunger Task Force. She brings creativity and solid business ideas to the table of the Regional Economic Development Committee with a style that keeps community members excited and engaged in realizing opportunities. She was a member of the Advisory Council appointed to be a driving force behind the opening of Marymount California University's Lakeside Campus and now serves as the campus's inaugural executive director. Michelle has weathered storms, professional and personal, with infinite grace and a smile on her face. When she fell and broke her back riding her horse on their ranch, Michelle dragged herself, using only her arms, a quarter mile home where she laid on the floor until her husband arrived and insisted on taking her to the emergency room. Once home from surgery she missed just three lectures of teaching her biology class at Mendocino College, where she is still an instructor. Michelle personifies grit--she is able to work hard, overcome adversity, and bring long-term passions and community goals to fruition.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, the success of our districts and the livelihood and future of our communities relies heavily on the devotion and service of those who go above the call of duty. The helpers willing to devote their time and energy to improving the lives of those around them deserve to be recognized. This fall, through my 2014 Women of the Year awards, I have made an effort to recognize, honor, and celebrate the vital contributions of outstanding women in my district. Through their work or volunteerism, these women have all vastly improved the quality of life in their communities. My office will recognize the achievements of Pat Ash, Marci Coglianese, Deborah Eernisse, Gloria Estrada, Lee Ann Grigsby-Puente, Mary Grimmer, Samina Masood, Dr. Frances Nelson, Gloria Partida, Linda Plummer, Lonetta Riley, Denise Rushing, Michelle Scully, and Nicole Van Vleck. These are exemplary examples of sacrifice and devotion. These civic leaders have helped improve their communities in various ways. They are advocates for education, agriculture, flood protection, environmental stewardship, the arts, promoting healthy communities, organizing events to promote world peace, and raising community awareness to end bullying. Throughout our history, America's foremothers have made great strides in securing their equal rights and equal treatment under the law. And while we have come very far, there is still work to be done. We stand on the shoulders of those giants, but that does not mean we should cease to reach further. The success these women have had in their lives translates directly to the success of their communities. The correlation is undeniable. When women succeed, our communities succeed, and our States succeed. ``When women succeed, America succeeds.'' I will continue to work to shape a Nation that fosters possibilities, opportunities, and equity for women. A large component of that mission is the Economic Agenda for Women and Families, which highlights three areas of importance. The first is pay. Women in this country make only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men doing exactly the same work. For African American and Latino women, the pay gap widens to 64 cents and 55 cents to the man's dollar. The minimum wage has not kept up with inflation, and when adjusted is more than 30 percent lower than it was in 1968. This is an unacceptable impediment to our success, and particularly the success of women. Women cannot succeed if wages are inequitable or insufficient. Paycheck fairness and increase in the minimum wage that includes tipped workers are just two solutions that will begin to mend the chasm created by the wage gap. The second area is work and family balance. The lack of policy ensuring earned paid sick days and paid maternity leave is, quite frankly, appalling. Our inaction on ensuring work and family balance not only affects the lives of parents, but the lives and the development of their children. The third area is child care. The passage of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 in the House of Representatives is a good first step towards ensuring access to child care, but there is still much more to be done. Ensuring the success of women, and thereby the success of America, is imperative. I am proud and extremely thankful to have these women working and serving in the communities I represent. The devotion, care, and service shown by them, and by those like them, are what make my district and America succeed.

Mr. GARAMENDI

Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin). (Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.