Jared Huffman

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Sandra Blauvelt, who passed away at the age of 81 on April 18, 2023. Sandra was a beloved member of the community and devoted public servant. Born in 1941 in Cleveland, Ohio, Sandra, fondly known as Sandy, grew up the youngest of 7 children. An ambitious and intelligent young woman, she attended Hathaway Brown School in Shaker Heights, where she served as the president of her high school class, won junior skating championships, and was admitted to Wellesley College. Sandy married her high school sweetheart, Gerrit Blauvelt, and they traveled across the country with their growing family while he finished medical school. After 2 years in the Navy, the family moved from Virginia to Larkspur, California where Sandy quickly began her decades of service to the Larkspur community. At the old Larkspur-Corte Madera school, Sandy organized parents and community members to volunteer at a new after-school enrichment program, sharing their personal passions and skills with students. Her community organizing skills assisted Joan Lundstrom in becoming the first woman elected to the Larkspur City Council in 1971. She also helps to raise funds for the acquisition of a section of Northridge as open space in 1977 and ran the successful campaign of Hal Brown for Marin County Supervisor in 1984. After his election, Sandy served as his aide for many years. Sandy dedicated decades of service to Marin County, including as the founding President of the Larkspur Community Foundation, 42 years on the Larkspur Park and Recreation Commission, and as a longtime member of the Marin Conservation League. Her contributions earned recognitions and she was deservedly awarded Citizen of the Year in 2005 by the City of Larkspur. Along with her political savvy, Sandy was known for her dedication to friends, family, and neighbors and for her active role as a grandmother. While she will be greatly missed, her legacy will live on through the positive impact she had on her community. Sandy was predeceased by her husband Gerrit and is survived by her daughter Molly Blauvelt, son Andy Blauvelt, grandsons Jonny and Sam Rank, granddaughters Sophie and Alice Blauvelt, and dozens of nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask that you join me in extending condolences to Sandy's family and friends and in expressing deep appreciation for her decades of public service in her community.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Theodore ``Dixon'' Long, who passed away at the age of 89 on December 11, 2022. Dixon was a writer, teacher, and community leader. Born in Warren, Ohio in 1933, Dixon first entered academia at the nearby Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio. He went on to earn a BA at Amherst College, an MA at Tufts University, and a PhD in Political Science at Columbia University. Throughout his life, Dixon pursued diverse career interests, including sailing, writing, teaching, and environmental conservation, and in, each of these areas he shared his experience and knowledge with the public. Dixon served in the U.S. Army in Korea. After leaving the military, he embarked on a sailing expedition that took him across the Indian and South Atlantic Oceans on a boat he built with two college friends in Japan. He documented his experiences in a series of articles for his hometown newspaper, and later combined those writings to form the foundation of his book ``Westward Horne,'' This adventure shaped his perspective and set the stage for his future endeavors. In academia, Dixon shared his wealth of knowledge as a tenured professor of political science at Case Western University from 1962 to 1985. His international experiences and expertise were invaluable as he guided his students and contributed to the field of political science. Alongside his teaching career, Dixon engaged in public affairs, producing reports for Congress on a wide range of topics, including science policy and the future of the Peace Corps. Dixon's passions extended to environmental conservation, where he actively participated in organizations such as the Ohio Conservation Foundation and the Holden Arboretum. His contributions focused on protecting open spaces and raising awareness about the impact of technology on the natural world. Additionally, his passion for the arts led him to support cultural institutions like the Cleveland Orchestra and Cleveland Ballet; he served as a docent at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, and on the board at Marin Theatre Company. Throughout his life, Dixon remained devoted to the pursuit of knowledge and the written word. He authored ten novels, including ``Brothers,'' ``A Very Rich Man,'' and ``Running Without Lights.'' His love for literature extended beyond his own work, as he actively supported and contributed to Zyzzyva, a magazine of writers and artists. Dixon is survived by brothers Quincy and Jeffrey, son Sam, daughter Ali, stepdaughters Anne Dickerson Lind and Julie Dickerson Byrne, four grandchildren, and four step-grandchildren. While he will be greatly missed, Dixon's legacy will live on through the positive impact he had on his community and beyond. Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask that you join me in extending condolences to Dixon's family and friends, and in expressing my appreciation for his decades of work for the public good and for sharing his life experiences with us.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Donald Goodman, who passed away at the age of 83 on April 29, 2023. Don was a pillar of the community who dedicated his life to supporting youth athletics in Cloverdale. Born in Mendocino County in 1939, Don grew up in Hopland and graduated from Hopland High School. He later attended Napa Valley College where he met his wife of 63 years, Neva Goodman. The couple later moved to Cloverdale, where in 1971, Don began volunteering with the Cloverdale Little League to coach their son's team. He continued to serve the children of the Little League as the administrator for California District 35, a position he held for 40 years. Don also assisted in the Little League World Series every summer. In recognition of his many years of supporting young athletes' success, he earned the W. Howard Hartman Little League Friendship Award in 2018. Most notably, Don volunteered as the public address announcer for Cloverdale High School for half a century and was considered ``the voice of Cloverdale.'' Don was known to ensure that every student athlete felt special and empowered when announcing for the football, basketball, baseball, and softball teams of Cloverdale High School. Throughout the seasons, hundreds of young athletes have benefitted from Don's generosity, work ethic, and dedication to making a positive difference for others. Beyond student athletics, Don served on the Cloverdale School Board of Trustees where he demonstrated an exemplary commitment to academics and high-quality education. He also served many years on the Board of Directors for Cloverdale's annual Citrus Fair, helping showcase the bounty and talent of the community. While he will be greatly missed, Don's legacy will live on through the innumerable positive impacts he has had on his community. Don is survived by his wife and children, Doug, Tom, and Nanci, his four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask that you join me in extending deep condolences to Don's family and many friends, and in expressing my deep appreciation for his decades of public service in his community.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleague Representative Mike Thompson in recognition of Mendocino College on the occasion of its 50th Anniversary, and in appreciation for decades of quality education provided to the communities of Mendocino County and Lake County. Over the last half century, Mendocino College has transformed from initially offering instruction in spare classrooms at Oak Manor Elementary School in 1973 to the dynamic institution we know today, proudly serving an area encompassing more than 5,207 square miles, including 51 towns and cities and 14 federally recognized Indian reservations. Mendocino College was founded in 1972 by a vote of the citizens of Anderson Valley. Laytonville, Potter Valley, Round Valley, Ukiah, and Willits Unified school districts. The first students would attend classes in Ukiah in 1973, making the College the first and only public institution of higher education in Mendocino County. The College would go on to serve over 1,000 students at temporary facilities at the Redwood Empire Fairgrounds, and by voter initiative in 1974, expanded to serve communities across both Mendocino County and Lake County. By the 1980s, the College began offering distance learning options in response to community needs. The Ukiah campus opened its doors in the summer of 1985 and is still in operation today. The College has continually invested in its educational infrastructure over the decades, with the strong support of the surrounding community and public funding. In 2012, the College completed construction of the Library and Learning Center, an innovative 48,000 square foot facility on the Ukiah campus. Always striving to reach as many potential students as possible, Mendocino College welcomed its newest satellite campus in 2017, the Coast Center in Fort Bragg. Mendocino College has been a pioneering institution in our region for decades, renowned for its strong dedication to student success and equity. In 1984, Mendocino College President Dr. Lee Lowery, with education advocates Sybil Hinkle and Gabrielle Thomas, formed the Mendocino College Foundation, an independent organization dedicated to helping students in need. Today. the Mendocino College Foundation supports students with hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships each year, directly contributing to the College's mission of creating opportunities and enriching students' lives. Mendocino College continues to adapt and innovate to provide programs to support students from rural communities, including English language learners, veterans, and Native Americans. Through its federally funded High School Equivalency Program and College Assistance Migrant Program, the College is delivering significant and impactful services to underserved, Latino, and migrant students. The College was designated a Hispanic Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education in 2014, and was just awarded a $2.6 million Hispanic Serving Institutions grant from the U.S. Department of Education through a highly competitive process. Over the last five decades Mendocino College has awarded nearly 15,000 students with degrees and certificates and supported nearly 350,000 students on their academic journeys. A vital institution of higher learning for Mendocino County and Lake County, Mendocino College is worthy of highest commendation. Mr. Speaker, please join us in recognizing Mendocino College on the occasion of its 50th Anniversary and offering the College our best wishes for another 50 years of serving the community.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Louis (Lou) Bartolini, who passed away at the age of 91 on April 2, 2023, to recognize his extraordinary contributions to Marin County. Born in the Hunters Point neighborhood of San Francisco in 1932, Lou grew up in the Bay Area, learning French as his first language. He attended St. Ignatius College Preparatory and the University of San Francisco before joining Merrill Lynch. where he served a long career as a broker. From San Francisco, he relocated to the Black Point neighborhood of Marin County with his wife Margaret Bartolini, whom he married in 1991. After retiring, Lou dedicated his time, skills, and funds to the community. He joined the Board of Westamerica Bank, served as a district governor with the Rotary Club of San Rafael, participated as a member of the Marin Forum, and managed the campaign of former San Rafael Mayor Al Boro. Lou's local leadership, however, was most prominent in the arts. Lou was a patron of the arts and champion of the local community. He and his wife, Marge, were the principal benefactors of the Marin Center's art exhibit, aptly named the Bartolini Gallery, a longtime dream of the community made possible in 2015 by the couple's generosity. With this public gallery, Lou envisioned a space to showcase local artists work and ensure ``arts for all.'' The 2.000 square-foot gallery prioritizes representation of diverse and underserved communities, from exhibits celebrating artists over the age of 80 to Marin City's 80th anniversary. Beyond visual arts, Lou was also a benefactor of the Marin Symphony and served as the organization's board president. Along with his strong work ethic and effectiveness, Lou was known for his positive attitude, quick wit, and humble demeanor. While he will be greatly missed, his legacy will live on through the positive impact he had on his community. Lou is survived by his wife of 31 years, Marge; his three children: Paul, LeeAnn, and Mark; two stepdaughters: Leslie and Amy; 9 grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask that you join me in extending condolences to Lou's family and friends and in expressing my appreciation for his decades of public service in his community.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory and exemplary life of public service of Janice Barry, who passed away on February 19, 2023. Born in Casper, Wyoming in 1944, Janice spent her childhood outdoors, skiing, skating, and riding horses. She moved west to California to attend Occidental College, graduating in 1966 to pursue a degree in medicine from the University of Southern California. While in medical school, she met her husband Peter, to whom she was married for 50 years. Janice and Peter traveled extensively after her graduation from medical school. After a short stint in the Bay Area, they relocated to Anchorage, Alaska where Janice worked at the Teamsters Clinic. Following this, they moved to Panama to provide public health services at Gorgas Hospital. In 1979, the family moved to Ross, California, and Janice opened her internal medicine practice, which she ran for 50 years until her retirement in 2020. She also was a physician for the Marin County Jail for 15 years. In addition, she traveled to Guatemala numerous times as a medical volunteer. Balancing motherhood and her full-time practice, Janice remained active, hiking, and running through Marin's watershed trails. Her love of the outdoors translated into conservation work that she pursued through her presidency of the Tamalpais Conservation Club and efforts to preserve Bald Hill, which she accomplished after three decades raising funds for its purchase. Beyond her full-time commitment to caring for the community's health, Janice completed marathons and biking events, traveled the globe, and made everything from wrapping paper to chocolate truffles from scratch. She was known for her beautiful landscape paintings, knowledge of wildlife, and deep compassion. Janice leaves behind her husband Peter; her brother, Gary Brown; and her children, Christopher, Piers, Hillary, and Andrew. Mr. Speaker, Janice Barry exemplifies the best traits for public service through a multitude of professional and volunteer contributions. While she will be greatly missed, her legacy will endure through the positive impacts she had on communities across the globe.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with my colleague, Rep. Mike Thompson, in recognition of Calvin Harwood for 25 years of exemplary public service to the Laytonville School District. Mr. Harwood graduated from Laytonville High School and attended College of the Redwoods in Eureka, California. Consistent with his family's tradition of public service, he joined the Laytonville School Board on December 4, 1997, where he has served as board president continuously since 2000. Over the past 25 years, Mr. Harwood played a continuous and instrumental role in upgrading school facilities. Under his leadership, the district secured new property and the community approved two local funding measures for school facility improvements. His guidance was essential to the successful construction of the new high school in 2003. During this process, he spent countless hours traveling to Sacramento to address the State Assembly and worked with the Office of Public School Construction on behalf of the district. In 2020, he once again provided stellar leadership during the major modernization of the elementary school campus. Fellow school board members and school administrators praise Mr. Harwood's honesty and note that he has earned the trust of the school community for always doing the right thing for Laytonville and its students. As Board President, he is valued for his ability to see the big picture and apply informed decision-making to ensure all decisions are focused on long-term benefits for the students. He has been a transparent and a clear communicator when making difficult decisions, including layoff-offs, school closures, budget cuts, school bus routes, curriculum implementation, expulsions, and not least of all, negotiations. In addition to his work on the school board, Calvin has served as captain of the Laytonville Volunteer Fire Department, and he coached a variety of sports including little league baseball and basketball. Mr. Speaker, Calvin Harwood exemplifies what it means to be a community-minded public servant. His continuous volunteer service has had an enduring and positive impact on the students and the community of Laytonville, California. Therefore, please join us in recognizing Laytonville Unified School Board President Calvin Harwood.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to House Republicans' polluters over people act, H.R. 1. This dangerous bill appears to be doubling down on dirty fossil fuels to pad the profits of polluters and Big Oil. Our Republican friends seem to be oblivious to the fact that, as we speak, there are communities in this country devastated by extreme weather events, from deadly tornadoes to life-threatening atmospheric rivers to unprecedented snowfall. Instead of legislating with an eye toward the future, our colleagues across the aisle are bringing up a bill that pretends there is no climate crisis. Scientists agree that action on climate is literally life or death. The recent IPCC report that just came out reminds us that we are out of time. It is now or never if we want to spare our kids from a future that includes more frequent and even worse extreme weather events and more climate-driven food insecurity. The world's best climate scientists call this a climate time bomb. Our Republican colleagues call it a hoax, and they produce bills like this. My colleagues seem to want to talk about speeding up permitting. Great, let's talk about permitting. Democrats just secured $1 billion for permitting streamlining in the Inflation Reduction Act for that very purpose. Let me remind you, not a single Republican voted for that bill, which was actually a solution to accelerating clean energy. What are they trying to do instead? They are trying to claw back the funding that we approved. They are trying to slow down permitting and do the exact opposite of what they claim that they want to see with their so-called permitting reform package. If they want to protect this planet for future generations, then anyone who cares about that really needs to read the fine print of this bill because it would force agencies to hold oil and gas lease sales on public lands even if they are not needed. If these sales don't get enough bids, they are replaced with more sales, at lower prices. So we are not just giving away our public lands, we are doing it at laughably low prices, locking in these lands for oil and gas development for decades to come. This is not just extreme. It is obscene. The Inflation Reduction Act included multiple oil and gas leasing reforms, modest reforms, to ensure that the public finally gets a fair share for onshore and offshore fossil fuel development. If we are going to begin to address the impacts of the climate crisis, then ending massive fossil fuel subsidies is a pretty good place to start. Under this legislation, not only are we going in the opposite direction, we are removing even these modest provisions to allow taxpayers to finally get their fair share from the incredible profits that these polluting industries would receive. This legislation lowers royalty rates, repeals interest fees, reinstates noncompetitive leasing, and it does all of this while fossil fuel companies are rolling in record profits of $451 billion for the oil and gas industry last year. H.R. 1 is the biggest rollback of the Clean Water Act that we have seen in 50 years. It will remove important clean water protections for States and Tribal Governments specifically. Under current law, section 401 of the Clean Water Act gives States and Tribes authority to review water quality as well as requirements of State law on any project or activity that requires a Clean Water Act permit. This bill would slash that authority and shorten the time frame for which they can review such projects. Make no mistake, this will make it harder to protect the waterways and the communities that depend on clean water in this country. Whether you are in East Palestine or Philadelphia or anywhere else in this country, we should know better than to take something as critical as clean water for granted. I had an amendment that would retain these section 401 protections for Tribal Governments. This was a simple test because often some of my Republican colleagues say that they believe in Tribal sovereignty and they want to empower Tribal voices. So we came up with an amendment to let them do that, to just at least take away this terrible provision when it came to Tribal Governments. They declined to move that amendment forward. It was blocked. Why do our Republican colleagues want to block Tribal voices? One of the last details that we should note, if you listen to the debt ceiling debate, this cyclical, situational concern for fiscal conservatism which is coming around again, my colleagues on the other side shout from the rooftops now about the deficit. Well, guess what? This legislation is not just bad for people, not just bad for the planet, it is fiscally irresponsible. The CBO projects that it will add to the deficit. Just a reminder, the Inflation Reduction Act, which all of my friends voted against, paid for itself and reduced the deficit. Look, we do need to be talking about permit streamlining for clean energy infrastructure. This is very important. We need more efficient procedures to bring more renewable energy online, to modernize and upgrade electricity transmission facilities, but this bill doesn't even begin to touch any of that. That is our greatest need, and it is nowhere in this bill. If my Republican friends want to be taken seriously regarding permitting reform and not just giveaways to polluters, they need to offer real solutions. This package is not it. For the sake of the planet and future generations, I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill. There are real, workable solutions to addressing our energy needs, extreme weather, food insecurity, and all of the downstream consequences of climate change, but this bill doesn't do it.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Robert ``Bob'' Praetzel, an extraordinary conservationist, attorney, and community leader, who passed away on February 4, 2023, at the age of 97. Bob was born in San Francisco in 1925 and spent most of his life in Marin County, where he developed a passion for nature hiking on Mount Tam and fishing in San Pablo Bay. He joined the Navy during World War II and spent three years in the allied forces. After the war, Bob pursued his education at the College of Marin, UC Berkeley, and Hastings Law School. His professional career spanned 60-years in Estate Planning and Probate. Bob became a renowned pioneer in protecting Marin County's open space. As one of the lawyers who challenged the development of the largest real estate projects in the county, Bob is credited with preserving the Marin Headlands and creating the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. His efforts have immeasurably shaped the landscape of Marin and will live on through the conservation of its natural beauty for years to come. Bob was also a passionate community volunteer, serving on numerous philanthropic and conservation boards in Marin County. He served as President of the Marin Bar Association and was founder and President of the Estate Planning Council. Additionally, he was an active volunteer for many charitable organizations and worked hard to secure funding for environmental groups such as the Trust for Public Land, Cal Trout, Ducks Unlimited, Resources Renewal Institute, and the Marin Agricultural Land Trust. Bob is remembered as an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed backpacking, hiking, and duck hunting, and shared many adventures with his wife of 66 years, Nancy, and their four children, Susanna, Matt, Eugenia, and Anne Marie. Even in his mid-90s, Bob was still active and highly motivated by his family, referring to them as his pride and joy. He leaves behind his wife, children, numerous grandchildren, and his siblings, Lola Saylor and Patrick Praetzel. Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that Robert Praetzel was a well- respected community figure who will be missed, and whose many contributions to the region are a legacy worthy of congressional recognition. Please join me in extending condolences to Bob's family and many friends, and in expressing my deep appreciation for the positive impact he has left on the community and the environment.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Captain Jill James as she retires from the United States Navy after 34 years of extraordinary service. Hailing from Sausalito in Marin County, Jill commissioned as an ensign in April 1989 after graduating from the University of Missouri- Kansas City School of Law. She was a direct commission to the active- duty Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps, and following her completion of Naval Justice School in Newport, Rhode Island, she reported to Naval Legal Service Office, Treasure Island, in San Francisco, California, to begin her career. After serving at Treasure Island, Jill was reassigned to Naples, Italy, where she worked on a mobile trial team for two years, traveling to various commands in an area of responsibility stretching from Scotland to Bahrain. Her final active-duty assignment brought her back to San Francisco, as the Head Defense Counsel at Naval Legal Service Office, West. Once she transitioned to the Navy Reserve, Jill went on to serve as Commanding Officer, Region Legal Service Office Pearl Harbor; Commanding Officer, Region Legal Service Office Japan; and Staff Judge Advocate, Navy Region Northwest, Reserve Component Command. Jill was recalled to active duty in September 2019 for twelve months to deploy overseas. Post-deployment, Jill was assigned to Region Legal Service Office Western Pacific. Jill's public service is not limited to her work in the Navy. Jill has served on the Sausalito City Council since 2014, and performed duties as Vice Mayor in 2015 and Mayor in 2016 and 2021. She has served as the City's School District Liaison and as the alternate to the Marin Telecommunications Agency. Jill has also represented the City on the Marin Bay Waterfront Adaptation Vulnerability Evaluation (BayWAVE) and as the alternate delegate to the Association of Bay Area Government. Jill has cultivated an extensive civilian career alongside her reserve service. After transitioning from active duty, she worked in civil litigation, managing trial teams in the San Francisco Superior Court and nearby jurisdictions as a lead counsel. She later specialized in wine and vineyard law, and went on to co-found an ecommerce company, Qorkz Wine, that facilitates wine sales from limited production wineries directly to consumers. Mr. Speaker, Captain Jill James exemplifies what it means to be a community-minded public servant. Her dedicated service both on the Sausalito City Council and in the United States Navy has left a positive impact locally in Marin County and on Navy operations worldwide. Therefore, please join us in congratulating her for decades of inspiring work and in wishing her a fulfilling military retirement.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Regina Bianucci Rus who is being honored as Citizen of the Year by the City of Novato for her exemplary public service. A 25-year resident of Novato, Ms. Rus dedicated more than two decades of community service to the city through numerous and varied roles. As a business owner and accounting expert, Ms. Rus has shared her professional and leadership skills with the community, including as a board member and president of Novato Human Needs, a long-standing member of the Novato Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Novato Citizens Finance Advisory Committee, and a volunteer with the League of Women Voters of Marin County. Her volunteer service varied from providing professional expertise and board leadership, to rolling up her sleeves to work on the annual July Fourth Buckaroo Breakfast, and volunteering at the Marin Food Bank. She also played a critical role in supporting the efforts to restore the Novato Theater. Ms. Rus's commitment to improving quality education is also extensive. She was a founding board member, treasurer, and president of School Fuel, president of San Marin High School's Parent Teacher Association, a math tutor for elementary students, and a high school guest speaker on financial literacy. She is also an active member of the Presbyterian Church of Novato. She was a member of the Finance and Administration Committee, and currently serves as an Elder of the Mission Committee. Through her work with the church, she has volunteered on trips to Juarez, Mexico to build homes for families-in-need; coordinated COVID-19 vaccination clinics in partnership with Marin County; and established the Snack Sack program, providing Marin County Mobile Shower recipients with lunches prepared by church members. For her substantial volunteer service, Ms. Rus has been honored with numerous accolades, including the Novato Chamber of Commerce 2011 Women in Business Leadership Award and the California State PTA 2020 Golden Oak Service Award. Known for her grace, intelligence, and innovative manner, she is respected for always prioritizing the betterment of her community. In her personal time, Ms. Rus is a musician and athlete. Since 2012, she has performed with the Las Gallinas Sanitary District Non-Marching Band. And, she has finished the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon 25 times and since assumed the role of volunteer race director. Ms. Rus's commitment to the City of Novato has been and continues to be significant and enduring. Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask that you join me in expressing gratitude to Ms. Rus for her enduring public service, and in extending to her congratulations for being honored as the City of Novato's Citizen of the Year.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Lucy Kortum, an extraordinary environmental champion and community leader, who passed away on November 30, 2022 at the age of 94. Lucy was born in Coronado, California in 1928, where her father was stationed as a Naval aviator during World War II. She graduated from Pomona College and moved to San Francisco where she met her husband, Bill Kortum, who would later be known as the father of the Sonoma County environmental movement. They married in 1953 and began their decades-long partnership in environmental and political advocacy. Beginning in the 1960s, Lucy and Bill led numerous public campaigns to preserve Sonoma and the northern California Coast from overdevelopment. The couple successfully advocated for saving Bodega Head from a plan to build a nuclear power plant, protecting public access along the northern Sonoma Coast. They also succeeded in passing Proposition 20, which created the California Coastal Commission and the California Coastal Act in 1972. Lucy was also a passionate historian and a champion of local and statewide architectural preservation. She earned her teaching credential at Sonoma State University, and later returned in 1991 to pursue her master's degree in history. Her master's thesis resulted in the addition of ten California Carnegie libraries to the National Register of Historic Places, and her work was later credited with adding the 1892 Petaluma Silk Mill to the National Register, saving it from future demolition. Lucy was highly motivated by her family and strong sense of community. The Kortum's home became a community hub in Sonoma County, often hosting meetings about pressing local issues. I am among many of the beneficiaries of Lucy and Bill Kortum's wisdom and mentorship. She leaves behind her sons, Frank and Sam Kortum. her daughter, Julie Groves, and her five grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that Lucy Kortum was a community figure who will be missed and whose many contributions to the region are a legacy worthy of congressional recognition. Please join me in extending condolences to Lucy's family and many friends, and in expressing my deep appreciation for the positive impact she has left on the community and the environment.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Phyllis Faber, who passed away at the age of 95 on January 15, 2023. Instrumental to the conservation movement in Marin County and the state of California, Phyllis was a trailblazing environmentalist who leaves a legacy worthy of high commendation. Born in New York City, Phyllis pursed a bachelor's degree in zoology from Mount Holyoke College and a master's degree in microbiology from Yale University. She eventually moved to Marin County in 1970, where she began her career as a wetlands biologist while teaching biology and natural history at the College of Marin. She became an effective advocate for wetlands restorations projects in the San Francisco Bay. In 1980, Phyllis and Ellen Straus co-founded the Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT), the first land trust in the nation dedicated to protecting farmland. Leveraging a coalition of ranchers, environmentalists, and community leaders, MALT has since secured more than 55,000 acres in Marin County and invested more than $1.8 million in projects aimed at improving and protecting the health of soil and water quality. Phyllis was an active member of the California Native Plant Society, as well as editor of the organization's journal. During her membership, she was credited with improving the botanical literacy of elected officials and helped promote the preservation of native plants in legislation and public policy. Additionally, she served as a regional officer for the California Coastal Commission and as a trustee on the Buck Institute Board of Trustees. Phyllis was known for her dedication, energy, and passionate advocacy for environmental stewardship. Without her efforts, Marin's landscape would be vastly different today. While she will be greatly missed, her legacy will live on through the preservation of Marin's natural beauty. Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask that you join me in expressing my deep appreciation for Phyllis' pioneering and lasting work in conservation and extending condolences to Phyllis' family and many friends.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Harry Bosworth in celebration of his extraordinary life and longstanding community involvement. Born in Geyserville, California in 1938, Mr. Bosworth graduated from Geyserville High School in 1956. He enlisted in the United States Army and was trained in electronics. Following his service in the Army, Mr. Bosworth moved back to Geyserville, married his wife, Karen Bosworth, and opened a hardware store. When his father passed away in the 1980s, Mr. Bosworth merged his hardware store with his parents' historic Bosworth and Son store, which was opened in 1911. Over the years, the store served many purposes and has become a local institution. Currently it provides hats, apparel and gifts, and appropriately, it houses the Geyserville Historical Society Museum. Like the store and his family, Harry Bosworth became a fixture in the community, and Sonoma County has benefited greatly from his extensive community involvement. Mr. Bosworth, in fact, was often referred to as the ``unofficial mayor'' of Geyserville. He served on the Geyserville School Board, the Geyserville Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis Club, the Odd Fellows, the Geyserville Community Foundation, the Geyserville Historical Society, and the board of the Geyserville Fire Protection District (now the Northern Sonoma County Fire Protection District). Mr. Bosworth also served as President of Friends of Lake Sonoma from 2013 through 2015, where his extensive community relationships and passion for local advocacy were instrumental in the completion of an on-site fish weir. He is known locally by his friends and peers for his endless energy and passion for the community. He is survived by his wife, Karen, brother, Charles Beers, his 2 daughters, Rachel and Gretchen, and granddaughters. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Bosworth's enduring and positive impact throughout Sonoma County and decades of public service are worthy of commendation. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor his legacy and express our deep condolences to his family and friends on his passing.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Dora Marie Knell, who passed away at the age of 98 on December 19, 2022. Dora was a political activist in her community and a champion of women's rights. Born in Sonoma County in 1924, Dora grew up in Guerneville, CA and attended Santa Rosa Junior College where she was the first woman elected student body president. She later earned her bachelor's degree in English and Journalism from UC Berkeley. Dora became a successful small business owner in Marin County, founding her own printing business, Copy Desk, in San Rafael and starting a publishing company, ETRI. In 1989, she sold her businesses and purchased several commercial properties, managing them herself. A dedicated political activist and feminist, Dora was committed to increasing women's participation in the political process. She was a founding member of the National Woman's Political Caucus, an Emeritus Member of the Marin Woman's Political Action Committee and elected to serve two terms on the Marin Democratic Central Committee. In addition, she also served on the Marin County Grand Jury and the Marin County Housing-Family and Child Advisory Committee. Known for her vocal activism, Dora is remembered for speaking her mind and fighting for a healthy democracy. Along with her hard work ethic and commitment to making a positive difference for others, Dora was known for her quick-witted humor, fierce determination, and generous spirit. While she will be greatly missed, her legacy will live on through the positive impact she has had on her community and beyond. Dora is survived by her children Gregory, Catalaine, Theodora, Valerie, Vivian, Geoffrey, Derek, and her 21 grandchildren and great- grandchildren, many of whom have carried on her passion for politics and public service. Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask that you join me in extending condolences to Dora's family and many friends and in expressing my deep appreciation for her decades of public service in her community.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chair, I have amendment No. 15 at the desk.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chair, this amendment would ban leasing for offshore oil and gas drilling off the northern California coast. Offshore drilling poses unacceptable risks. Where you drill, you spill. That is why Republican and Democratic Governors on both the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts have voiced their opposition to any new oil and gas leasing off their coasts. We should not put our oceans, fisheries, coastal communities, economies, and planet at risk just to enrich the fossil fuel industry. While folks were hurting at the pump, Big Oil companies were raking in record profits, and they were sitting on millions of acres of unused leases, capitalizing on the war in Ukraine in order to gouge U.S. consumers. Giving them even more control over our public lands is not necessary, and it won't do a darn thing for consumers. At a time when the climate crisis is ravaging communities across the globe, adding new leases on public lands makes no sense unless you value Big Oil profits above making sure our children have a livable planet. Now, the north coast of California is an amazing, pristine place that I am privileged to represent. It supports a thriving blue economy, including fishing, tourism, and some of the other values that we have heard discussed here today. It deserves the same kind of protection that President Trump gave reluctantly and very selectively to certain communities in Florida and on the East Coast after there was a backlash from Republican Members of Congress and Republican Governors to his drill everywhere plan. The north coast of California deserves at least that same level of protection, and by passing this amendment, it will get it. Mr. Chair, I thank my friend and colleague, the gentleman from my neighboring district, Congressman Mike Thompson, for joining me on this measure. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson).

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chair, this amendment would block this legislation from allowing increased oil and gas leasing on any Federal land where outdoor recreation takes place. Our public lands are for the public, not for the wealthiest industry in the history of the world to drill and to spoil with impunity. Being active in the outdoors and experiencing wild places is a way of life not just in my district but for many communities around this country. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when we were unable to gather the way we liked to indoors, we learned just how important our parks and our public lands are, how getting outside helps our well-being. This is why we must protect and expand our public lands for recreational use, not give them away to a single polluting industry. We all depend on the ecological, economic, and mental health benefits that our public lands provide. That is why my amendment protects these important lands. If we are good stewards, our public lands can simultaneously support a thriving outdoor recreation economy as well as natural resiliency against the climate crisis, all while preserving and protecting these precious lands for future generations. These are the goals of the Biden administration and the State of California in their efforts to protect 30 percent of our lands by 2030 because these lands are meant for everyone to use, enjoy, and pass down to future generations to do the same. However, H.R. 21 would create an arbitrary increase in oil and gas development for the benefit of one single group: the oil and gas industry. This bill may seem simple--it is just three pages long--yet it does something really big and dangerous. It stands to open up over 300 million acres to be destroyed for oil and gas drilling, an area equivalent to three times the size of California or six times the combined size of all our national parks. This is unacceptable, and it is another example of the dangerous extremism we see from this new Republican majority. The fact of the matter is, there are currently 9,000 permits held by the oil and gas industry right now that are not being used. Additionally, the majority of the roughly 26 million acres that are currently under lease to oil and gas companies on our Federal lands and waters are not being used. Industry is simply sitting on them to keep prices artificially high. What would industry do with the dramatic expansion of new leasing opportunities on our valuable public lands? Well, the evidence shows that they will simply lock them up so that they couldn't be used for other activities such as recreation or renewable energy. I represent the north coast of California, and my constituents know the value of public lands for outdoor recreation, from hiking and climbing to kayaking and angling. I hope folks on both sides of the aisle agree that we need to protect the future of these cherished recreational activities on our public lands. Our public lands used for outdoor recreation should not be sacrificed at the altar of Big Oil. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chair, I have amendment No. 65 at the desk.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Jack Gibson's 28 years of service as Marin Municipal Water District's (Marin Water) Division I Director. A longtime resident of Sleepy Hollow, Mr. Gibson is a proud graduate of the University of San Francisco School of Law and has worked as an attorney since 1971. In this capacity, he has spent countless hours sharing his professional expertise with his community, providing pro bona legal services to several local nonprofit organizations and serving on their boards of directors. He owns his own practice in Marin County, where he specializes in business, estate planning, and real estate law. In 1994, Mr. Gibson was elected to serve as a Marin Municipal Water District director. Throughout his tenure on Marin Water, Director Gibson distinguished himself as a stalwart advocate for the communities of Marin Water Division I, including Gallinas Valley, Sleepy Hollow, Marinwood, and the coast north of McNears Beach to John F. Mcinnis Park. He worked productively on many district committees, including Watershed, Finance, Communications & Water Efficiency, and others. He was known for his open-minded approach toward problem solving and never shying away from developing and considering innovative solutions. In addition to his service as a director, Mr. Gibson developed a renowned legacy for building alliances with other resource agencies and government partners. During his extensive tenure on the Marin Water Board of Directors, he was a key advocate for cooperative efforts and coordination between water managers and staff in the North Bay. Toward this end, he faithfully represented Marin Municipal Water District on multiple regional committees, including the North Bay Watershed Association, the North Bay Water Reuse Authority, the Mayors and City Councils of Marin Group, the Sonoma County Water Association Contractor's Water Advisory Committee, the Community Choice Aggregation, and OneTam. Mr. Gibson is both a teacher and student of history. Prior to his law and water district careers, he taught history in San Francisco. Later, drawing on his extensive knowledge and research skills, he went on to author Mount Tamalpais and the Marin Municipal Water District, a comprehensive history of Mount Tamalpais and its adjacent watersheds, and of the water district formed to preserve natural sites and resources for community use. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Gibson exemplifies what it means to be a community- minded public servant and environmental steward. His dedicated service to the Marin Water and to the people of Division I has played a significant role in resource conservation and land management in Marin County. Therefore, please join us in congratulating him for decades of inspiring work.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise to point out to my colleagues some context and facts that are totally missing from this debate. Exports of oil from the SPR regardless of destination were not a problem before 2015. Many of us were here, and we remember exactly why that 40-year policy of the United States, a ban on crude oil exports, changed. It changed because that year a Republican-controlled Congress insisted on lifting the export ban. The Republicans in charge at that time refused to consider an amendment that was offered by our friend and former colleague, Representative Gene Green. That amendment would have required exporters to have a permit finding that their export of crude oil was consistent with the national interest. Republicans did not create any restrictions on the destination of oil exported from our strategic reserves or any other source. If Republicans had not lifted that export ban, we would not have this problem. If Republicans hadn't blocked Representative Green's amendment from even being considered on the floor of the House, we would not have this problem. Instead, we are left with a Republican messaging bill which purports to address a small part of the problem while ignoring the much bigger problem that they created back in 2015. If my friends across the aisle were truly concerned with U.S. oil exports going to China, then they would put a more serious measure forward. At the very least, they would block not just some small amount of petroleum from the SPR, but the sale of all crude oil exports to China which includes much larger volumes outside of the SPR. In the international market, we don't know where crude oil ends up once it hits the global marketplace. That is the way it works. Sales to entities with connections to China may not go to China. Sales to entities with no connection to China may go straight to China. That is just how it works. The fact is the only way we can be sure that U.S. crude doesn't end up in the hands of foreign entities of concern is to reinstate that crude oil export ban. I agree with my friends across the aisle. We shouldn't be exporting our strategic oil reserves to China. I just wish they hadn't gotten us into this mess in the first place, and I wish they would put forth a more serious bill now.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor George Mills who passed away on November 18, 2022, to celebrate his extraordinary life and commitment to serving his community. George grew up in Dearborn, Michigan where he played varsity football at St. Alphonsus School. In his youth, he worked at the Dearborn Independent, a weekly newspaper published and co-owned by his father. In 1959, the family moved to San Francisco where George earned a degree in Political Science from the University of San Francisco. He then attended the Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island and served 3 years on the USS Ticonderoga. In 1964, George decided to further his education at the St. Patrick Catholic Seminary in Menlo Park, returning to the San Francisco Bay Area to earn his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. George's long and impactful career in education began with his return to the University of San Francisco, where he earned both his teaching credential and his Master of Arts in Education. His entire teaching career was with the San Rafael High School District (District). He started as a teacher at the San Rafael Continuation School, and within a decade, he established a Title I Language Arts Learning Center at San Rafael High School. In total, George dedicated 32 years to teaching English, Yearbook, and Journalism in the District. He was also active in the San Rafael Federation of Teachers in San Rafael and a respected advocate for his profession and colleagues. During his decorated career, he received the ``Classroom Excellence'' award from the California Association of Teachers of English in 1983 and was selected as a Bay Area Writing Project Fellow at U.C. Berkeley in 1985. Fittingly, he was named an ``Outstanding Teacher'' in Marin County in 1997. In addition to teaching, George was deeply involved in the San Rafael community with his wife Gayle. As Chairman of the Sun Valley Neighborhood Association, George traveled door to door to convince his neighbors to contribute to a community purchase of the land around Sun Valley Trail. This effort preserved the land for public use in 1985, which today is managed by Marin County Open Space District. George also coached his son's soccer and baseball teams and served as Assistant Scoutmaster for his Boy Scout troop. George is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Gayle Mills, his 2 children: Christopher and Claire, and 2 grandchildren: Georgia and Donovan Illingworth. While he will be greatly missed, George's legacy will live on through the positive impact he had on his family, Marin County, and beyond. Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that George Mills was a dedicated civil servant who will be missed and whose many years of service are worthy of commendation. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor his many contributions and express our deep condolences to his family and friends.