Jared Huffman

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Honorable Faye D'Opal as she retires from a long and distinguished career as Marin County Superior Court Judge on December 31, 2016. First elected as Marin Superior Court Judge in 2004, Judge D'Opal served in the Felony and Civil Departments, Family Law, Probate, Conservatorships and the past two years as Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Department. She also served as the court's Assistant Presiding Judge (2012-2013) and Presiding Judge (2014-2015) with distinction. Judge D'Opal's legacy of community service began in rural Arkansas where she participated in the historic efforts to desegregate Little Rock's public schools. She earned her bachelor's degree from Hendrix College in Arkansas and a law degree from the New College of California, San Francisco. She spent 12 years in Latin America working for the Peace Corps, and became a public-interest attorney. Renowned for her 2013, now historic decision on the death penalty that virtually stopped it in the state of California, Judge D'Opal's career includes many additional legacies and positive impacts on others. From her work to establish a legal self-help center, to her advocacy for abused women for the Legal Aid of Marin, and her work as trustee of the Marin Community Foundation, Judge D'Opal has used her keen intellect to improve the quality of life for others less fortunate by supporting social justice and promoting fairness and equity for all. In all aspects of her life, Judge D'Opal has acted with principles and courage. As a leader and role model for the LGBT community, and throughout her professional career and extensive public service, she has set a fabulous example for women and young girls everywhere. Even as she is approaching her retirement from the Superior Court, she has been encouraging more women and minorities to get involved in the legal system. Her positive impact on our community will continue as a pro tem judge in juvenile law, and in her pursuit to eliminate domestic violence. Mr. Speaker, it is therefore fitting that we honor and thank the Honorable Faye D'Opal for her many good deeds, and wish her much enjoyment as she spends more time with her beloved partner, daughters and grandchildren, and hikes, bikes, and kayaks around the beautiful Northern Coast of California.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Tom Wilson as he retires as executive director of the Canal Alliance after 24 years of service. Under Mr. Wilson's leadership, the Canal Alliance has added numerous programs and services, added more than 30 employees, and has maintained four county contracts and 400 active volunteers a year. He has expanded the organization's budget from $350,000 to $3.8 million today, helping to reach more residents in need. Mr. Wilson has been instrumental in developing an organization that touches the lives of more than 3,500 people per year with educational, vocational, and legal services, as well as family support. The Canal Alliance helps to provide supplemental food distribution to 400 families every week and English as a second language instruction to 1,200 adults per year. After Immigration and Custom Enforcement officers conducted raids in the community, the Canal Alliance began talks with the Marin County Human Rights Commission, city and county officials, and ICE--conversations that ultimately helped stop the immigration raids. As a result of the cutting-edge work done by Canal Alliance, the organization has been honored with the 2013 North Bay Leadership Council Award for empowering the Latino Community, the Heart of Marin Award for Achievement in Nonprofit Excellence, the Marin Community Foundation's Beryl Buck Achievement Award for Promoting Diversity and Inclusiveness, the Tipping Point Community Award, the U.S. Mayors' End Hunger Award, among others. In addition to these recognitions, Tom Wilson has been awarded both the Benjamin Dreyfus Civil Liberties Award by the ACLU, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award by the Marin County Human Rights Commission. Tom Wilson's legacy is one of dedicated service to the children and families of San Rafael. Please join me in congratulating him on his retirement and expressing our deep appreciation for his long and exceptional career and outstanding contributions to the Canal Alliance.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues, Congressman Mike Thompson and Congressman John Garamendi, to recognize the Honorable Lois Wolk for her long and distinguished record of service as an elected official in the state of California. In 1990, Lois Wolk won a seat on the Davis City Council where she served until 1998, including two terms as Mayor. She went on to become a Yolo County Supervisor for four years, chairing the Board in 2000. Wolk was then elected to the California State Assembly, where she was the first woman to serve as chair of the Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. Termed out of the Assembly in 2008, Wolk was subsequently elected to the California State Senate where she now serves as the Majority Whip, chairs the Select Committee on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and chairs a Senate Budget Subcommittee. In her combined twelve years in the state legislature, Senator Wolk has authored more than 100 new laws. During her impressive career in the legislature, Wolk has been honored with many awards and recognitions for her leadership in water policy and flood protection, parks and conservation, gun violence, end- of-life care, and transportation, including the safety of State Highway 12. Senator Wolk has led an admirable career in public service, filled with policy accomplishments on behalf of her constituents and the state. Mr. Speaker, it is therefore fitting that we honor and thank Lois Wolk for her long and distinguished career and wish her the best of luck on her future endeavors.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Don McEnhill, Sr., who passed away on September 29, 2016 after a lifetime of service to his community. Born February 21, 1930, in San Francisco, Mr. McEnhill attended the University of San Francisco prior to serving in the United States Air Force, and using GI Bill benefits, he graduated from University of the Pacific Dental School in 1960, going on to practice dentistry for 32 years in the San Francisco Bay Area. A 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force, Don met his future wife Mildred (Milly) Lewis, a Western Airlines stewardess, while stationed in Salt Lake City; they would go on to raise four loving children. Mr. McEnhill's legacy of community service includes serving on the boards for the Dixie School District, Fitch Mountain Homeowners' Association, and League of Women Voters. Additionally, Don served on the Marin County Civil Grand Jury and was a staunch advocate for the Russian River. An active parishioner of St. Isabella Parish for 53 years, Don helped establish the high school faith formation Parish Youth Council (PYC) to serve the spiritual, social, and intellectual needs of high school students. Mr. McEnhill is survived by his beloved children: John McEnhill IV, Marilyn McEnhill, Don McEnhill, Jr., and Ann Margaret McEnhill in addition to his sisters: Mary McInerney, Elizabeth Kozel and Judith Lee Jasko; his brother, Gerald; and his beloved grandchildren, Jack and Emma McEnhill, William and Joseph Simonds; and a large extended family. Mr. Speaker, the depth of Mr. McEnhill's service to the military and his local community, as well as his commitment to his family and faith have left a positive legacy to many, and he will be dearly missed. It is therefore appropriate that we pay tribute to him today and honor his memory.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Libby Maynard of Humboldt County, who is being honored on September 30, 2016, by the Northern California Association of Nonprofits with the 2016 Nonprofit Leader Achievement Award, a recognition she richly deserves. Libby Maynard has served as co-founder and Executive Director of The Ink People Center for the Arts in Eureka since 1979. A professional printmaker, Libby co-founded The Ink People to support artists and educate the community about the arts. Under her leadership, The Ink People has grown to more than 400 members and provides exhibitions, performances, and educational opportunities for all ages. The program helps at-risk youth create positive change in their communities through the MARZ Project and provides administrative support, management, and capacity building through its DreamMaker Program to self-directed projects. With Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Humboldt State University in Arcata, Libby is an accomplished artist in her own right. Her artwork has been exhibited throughout California and is in collections across the nation. Libby Maynard is highly engaged in her community, serving as a consultant in nonprofit management and program development, as well as director on many nonprofit boards, including Alliance for California Traditional Arts, Humboldt County Workforce Investment Board and Executive Committee, Humboldt County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Marketing Committee, and Access Humboldt and Finance Committee. Since 2005, Libby has served as staff to the City of Eureka's Art & Culture Commission and sits on Eureka Main Street's Public Arts Committee. Libby has received numerous awards and honors, including the Ingrid Nickelsen Award for a lifetime of commitment to the arts; The Selina Roberts Ottum Award from Americans for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts; California Association of Nonprofits' Insurance Services' Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership; California Arts Council Director's Special Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Local Arts Agency Field; and recognitions from the Hmong Community of the North Coast and Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, among many others. Mr. Speaker, Libby Maynard's commitment to bettering her community through the advancement of art and culture is commendable and worthy of recognition. I urge my colleagues to join me in extending our congratulations to her.

Mr. HUFFMAN

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

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This bill approves a water rights settlement agreement that would resolve nearly five decades of litigation. That is a great thing. The 2015 settlement between the United States and the parties that Mr. Denham just mentioned is important, and approving this settlement will finally put an end to years of bitter fighting over water rights in the San Luis Rey River Basin. It also leaves intact the full amount of funds Congress previously appropriated for the tribes. This kind of negotiation is important, and the painstaking work that has gone into it is to be commended. Now it is up to Congress to do its part to implement a well-crafted settlement. I commend my colleagues across the aisle for introducing this bill and for moving it through the House, and I thank the committee staffs on both sides who have been working hard to bring this bill to the floor. I have to say, though, Mr. Speaker, that all of this good, collaborative work represented in Mr. Hunter's bill stands in contrast to another set of pending water agreements in our State. I hope that the Obama administration will look at this successful example of collaboration in San Diego County and reconsider its current approach to the Westlands-San Joaquin Valley drainage disputes, where Congress and the public have been extremely ill-served. In the two pending drainage agreements, the Interior Department has agreed to waive hundreds of millions of dollars that are owed to taxpayers. They have failed to close off potential litigation risks from other parties and have failed to secure actual commitments to clean up the contamination. They have also promised to write a new, permanent water contract for a party that is not a tribal party but is in an arid state where everyone is hurting for clean water. Meanwhile, we weren't able to receive administration testimony on one of the agreements due, in part, to a pending inspector general investigation of the beneficiaries. I am hopeful that, in the next administration and in a new Congress, we can do a better job on this drainage issue and, specifically, that we will be able to tackle those California drainage disputes with the same level of collaboration and problem-solving that we have seen in the San Luis Rey Basin. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Ethel Seiderman, who passed away on July 26, 2016, after a lifetime of service to her community. The daughter of Jewish immigrants from Poland, Ethel developed a passion for children and social justice from growing up in a working-class Bronx childhood. While studying at Brooklyn College she met and married Stanley Seiderman. In 1963 they left New York and made their home in San Francisco, moving to Marin four years later. Mr. Seiderman, a family counselor, died in 2005. After founding the pioneering Fairfax-San Anselmo Children's Center in 1973, Ethel went on to become nationally known as a passionate advocate for early childhood education and social justice for needy children and families. In later years, on behalf of the Parent Services Project, Mrs. Seiderman traveled widely, teaching and lecturing in a dozen states. In Marin, she advised child-care centers as well as a dozen elementary and high schools. In 2006, she was honored with the Beryl H. Buck Award for ``community giving in action.'' After running a nursery school in Terra Linda and working in child care centers in San Francisco's African-American Fillmore District, Mrs. Seiderman battled the state bureaucracy to get funding for the Fairfax-San Anselmo Child Care Center, the first low-cost child care center founded by a community member. Mr. Speaker, the depth of Mrs. Seiderman's commitment to the children, education, and social justice has left an indelible mark not just on the community of Marin, but on children and families far and wide. She was a formidable force whose presence will be missed by many. It is therefore appropriate that we pay tribute to her today and honor her memory.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, Robert Emmet was an Irishman who was inspired by our hard-fought independence in this country, and he wanted the same for his native land. I think this bill is a wonderful thing for Ireland and a wonderful thing for Irish Americans, including for my colleague, Mr. Crowley, a great, proud Irish American. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4564 designates a small triangle of land in Washington, DC as the Robert Emmet Park. The parcel is home to a statue of Robert Emmet, a seminary figure in Ireland's quest for independence. The bill also authorizes the National Park Service, which managed the area, to add interpretive displays and signage to the area. Emmet admired the independence we achieved in this country, and only wanted the same freedom and liberty for his compatriots. These powerful sentiments are a charge to all of us in this Chamber and throughout the country: that we put the good of our fellow countrymen before our individual gains and that we work together to preserve this great Nation. By designating this small plot of land and the accompanying statue as Robert Emmet Park, this stands as a constant reminder of the call to liberty and freedom that binds our Nation together. I am glad to support this bill and thank the sponsor, Representative Joe Crowley of New York, the vice-chair of the Democratic Caucus. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley).

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would just like to thank Mr. Crowley for offering this important issue. It is important to Irish heritage, and it certainly deserves the recognition as a park right here in our local area of Washington, D.C. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues, Representatives John Garamendi and Mike Thompson, to recognize the University of California, Davis' Bodega Marine Laboratory upon its 50th anniversary. Seated on the 362-acre Bodega Marine Reserve within the University's Natural Reserve System, which supports the highest number of research projects of any reserve in the state and arguably in the nation, the Bodega Marine Laboratory is the primary open-coast research facility along the California coast. Since its founding in 1966 by the University of California, Berkeley, this instrumental coastal and marine sciences laboratory has educated thousands of students, coordinated hundreds of projects with local and state agencies and has conducted outreach education initiatives in local communities. The Bodega Marine Laboratory's history of research, education, and outreach has contributed substantially to the strength of California's habitats. The Bodega Marine Laboratory's interdisciplinary, collaborative approach to addressing California's unique environmental challenges has established California as a prime example of what we can accomplish through coordinated efforts to protect our natural resources. Mr. Speaker, it is therefore fitting that we congratulate the Bodega Marine Laboratory upon its 50th anniversary, and thank its leadership and staff for their invaluable contributions to our environment and community.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1076, the bipartisan no fly, no buy legislation, to honor the memory of Alex Freeman, a victim of gun violence who never received a moment of silence on the House floor.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, the ongoing crisis in Flint, Michigan, is a clear reminder that this Congress has unfinished work to do. Our constituents will rightly judge our job performance by our work, not by our finger-pointing, not by empty expressions of concern. We need to get to work, and we need to work together to provide clean water for the people of Flint; but we can't stop there because Flint is not an isolated incident. We have seen dangerous lead levels in schools that are outside of Fresno, California, and that are even in our own Capitol buildings here in Washington, D.C. What has happened in Flint is a symptom of a much greater ill of underinvestment in our Nation's clean water infrastructure. A generation ago, it was a Republican President and a Californian, Ronald Reagan, who signed significant updates to the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1986. He knew then that clean water infrastructure was not a partisan issue. Thirty years later, it is our turn. The bipartisan case for investing in clean water infrastructure has never been stronger. Every single American deserves access to clean and safe drinking water. So let's get to work. Let's pass the Families of Flint Act, and let's work on a national clean water infrastructure plan to prevent another disaster like this from happening in the future.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I, along with my colleague, Representative Mike Thompson, rise today in memory of Elizabeth ``Liz'' Mary Burko who gave nearly thirty years of service to the California Department of Parks and Recreation, and whose career was recently commemorated by a bridge dedication in her name in Bodega Bay, California. Liz died tragically on Saturday, August 22, 2015 in Duncan Mills, California, cutting short a career dedicated to our state's public lands. Liz began her career as a volunteer interpreter at Ano Nuevo State Reserve and serving as a Park Aide. For half of her career, she worked as a ranger in several state parks including Lake Perris State Recreation Area and parks in the Santa Cruz District. Her strong leadership and deep commitment to parks was apparent. She was promoted to Supervising Ranger at Big Basin Redwoods State Park and then to Sector Superintendent in the North Coast Redwoods District. In 2007, she was promoted again to District Superintendent of the Sonoma- Mendocino Coast District. As a leader, Liz was a mentor, helping to enhance her team's professional development. She had a deep commitment to protecting public lands and sharing nature with the public, and she was dedicated to the mission of the California State Parks: providing for the health, inspiration, and education of Californians while protecting the state's natural and cultural resources and creating opportunities for high- quality recreation. She held this mission to heart and executed her duties with professionalism and respect. Her advocacy to keep parks open during state budget cuts is a testament to her passion and commitment. Liz fostered strong working relationships with nonprofits like LandPaths for assistance with management of the Willow Creek Addition to the Sonoma Coast State Park. She saw the great value in leveraging community resources for the benefit of parks and its users. She will be forever missed for her integrity, generosity, sense of humor, unmatched work ethic, and warm smile. Her love and devotion to parks will continue on in the many lives she has touched, the policies she has influenced while serving at the California Department of Parks and Recreation, and now the bridge dedication in her honor at the Bodega Bay Coastal Prairie that will be enjoyed by many visitors for years to come. It is therefore appropriate that we pay tribute to Liz today for her enduring legacy and express our deepest condolences to her family and friends.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Marin County Fair in honor of its 75th anniversary. A beloved community event attended by people throughout the Bay Area, the Marin County Fair has for decades brought together families, friends, craftspersons, local vendors and more in this historic celebration of Marin County's people and products. Held this year at the Marin Center in San Rafael from June 30 to July 4, the award-winning Marin County Fair has been held almost annually since its 1925 inception as the Marin County Fair and Harvest Festival. With a wide range of activities for participants, the 2016 fair features over 800 new and returning exhibits, from photography competitions to culinary contests to performing arts and beyond. Additionally, the fair hosts concerts, rides, fireworks, and other attractions throughout its five-day run. The Marin County Fair is notable not just for its cultural contributions to the community, but for its commitment to environmentally friendly practices and healthy living. From its solar- powered carousel to food recovery and composting services, the ``Greenest County Fair on Earth'' has been a longtime pioneer in sustainable event management. Additionally, the fair's health-conscious efforts, like emphasizing nutritional food from vendors and encouraging attendees to bike, have warranted wide-spread recognition, including as the Merrill Award winner at the 53rd Western Fairs Association Annual Achievement Awards Program. By integrating stewardship and wellness into the fabric of the fair, the Marin County Fair preserves its legacy as ``the people's fair'' while ensuring the event can continue for decades to come. This year's theme, ``What a Ride!'' is appropriate for the diamond anniversary of the fair and its decades of history and importance in Marin County. Mr. Speaker, it is therefore fitting to honor the Marin County Fair on their 75th year for their ongoing presence in our community.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman. My friend from Alaska is correct. The ultimate decision and the final disposition of this incredible place is up to the Congress of the United States. However, the question before us now is how should this area be managed until Congress finally resolves this issue? I am proud to have authored an amendment a few months back that showed that there is bipartisan support in the House for a final wilderness determination. I believe eventually that bipartisan support will be a majority of the Congress. But in the meantime, those of us that are working to protect this very important iconic place know that we are expressing the voice of the American people. Nearly 1 million people commented in support of the wilderness recommendation. These are people from all 50 States. It includes Native Americans. It includes Native Alaskans. It includes people from the faith community, the business community, and the environmental community. This is a uniquely important place with wildlife that, in many cases, are not found anywhere else and with a connection for all of us of because the migratory bird species that spend part of their lives in the Coastal Plain of the Arctic Refuge travel to almost all 50 States in other parts of their life stage. We all have a stake in this. We need to do the right thing. I believe the administration is doing the right thing by managing this area as wilderness while we continue to work on an act of Congress that will settle this longstanding question.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, as the designee of the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Michelle Lujan Grisham), I offer amendment No. 11.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``yes'' vote. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, this amendment strikes section 122 from the underlying bill. That section would prevent the BLM from meeting its statutory obligations under the Mineral Leasing Act to ensure operators ``use all reasonable precautions to prevent waste of oil or gas.'' The BLM would also be prevented, if this underlying provision remains, from modernizing the existing 30-year-old oil and gas production rules to bring them into line with technological advancements in the industry. If that provision stays in the bill, States, tribes, and Federal taxpayers stand to lose royalty revenues when natural gas is wasted, which a 2010 GAO report estimated could amount to as much as $23 million, annually, in royalty revenue. If this provision remains in the bill, BLM will not be able to update the current royalty rate or raise it as conditions may warrant. A recommendation has been made by both the GAO and the inspector general that they do that, that the conditions do indicate that an increase is in order. So it is just good government to take this provision out, to update a 30-year-old set of regulations in order to better reflect the current operating climate and to ensure a fair royalty return. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, it always warms my heart to hear my Republican colleagues embrace science. It is a beautiful thing. I wish it happened a lot more often. In this case, we have had 30 years of study. We know a lot. The administration has developed this rule to the point at which it believes it is ready. It is an important rule; it is long overdue; and it is time to move forward. I continue to request a ``yes'' vote. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, I am glad that my colleague from Florida brought up the Deepwater Horizon tragedy because it was 6 years ago this week, actually, after 87 terrible days of the worst oil spill in history, that the BP Deepwater Horizon's wellhead was finally capped. The toll of that disaster, as everyone knows, was horrific--11 workers killed, untold economic damage to communities around the Gulf of Mexico, and, of course, devastating and ongoing impacts on fish and wildlife. This is a good time for us to reflect and to discuss the role of the Federal Government in reviewing the environmental impacts of oil and gas development, not just in the Gulf of Mexico, but in a place where the environmental damage could be even worse if and when something went wrong, say, in the Arctic Ocean. My amendment would strike section 127 of the underlying bill. Doing that would allow the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to move forward with its proposed update of regulation on air quality control reporting and compliance. It would allow that proposed rule to serve its intended purpose, which is to bring decades-old rules on offshore air emissions into the 21st century. The BOEM, itself, is a new agency. It was born out of the response to the BP Deepwater Horizon spill, but it was also born out of an awareness that the old agency--the Minerals Management Service--was, frankly, too cozy with Big Oil, and that that is why that old agency never updated these old rules. These existing air pollution rules have been in place since 1988, and it is past time that we moved forward with new pollution standards, new modeling, and new technology. The proposed rule, in this case, seeks to address the emissions of several very harmful air pollutants, including volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. The proposed rule does that with flexibility. Actually, in some cases, it reduces regulatory burdens by eliminating redundant reporting requirements and by allowing operators to use emissions credits. The residents of the Arctic and other oil-producing regions and the workers in the industry shouldn't be subjected to additional air pollution from oil and gas development simply because of where they live and work. We should let these new rules go forward. If history teaches us anything, it teaches us that Big Oil cannot be trusted to do the right thing when it is left unregulated. I would hope that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle would agree that strong and consistent oversight is necessary. I ask for a ``yes'' vote. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.