Jared Huffman

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in memory of Daniel Dill, who passed away on September 17, 2019 at the age of 48 after a lifetime of public service to his community. Born on June 11, 1971, to Danny and Grace Dill, Dan attended Fortuna High School, then studied wildlife management at Humboldt State University. After graduating, Dan worked for the Pacific Lumber Co., where he became a senior wildlife biologist in 1995. In 2008, he went to work as a wildlife biologist at Six Rivers National Forest, and he was named deputy district ranger for the Orleans/Ukonom Ranger District in 2012. He then became district ranger for the Mad River Ranger District in 2015. Dan also was a member of the Scotia and Fortuna volunteer fire departments, and the Scotia School Board. Dan's commitment to the U.S. Forest Service and the communities it serves was particularly apparent during the 2015 wildfires on Six Rivers National Forest where he displayed tremendous leadership. Recognized for being in tune with residents' needs during and following the fires, he worked diligently to address critical forest fuels management and restoration projects in the area. Dan knew how to bring diverse groups of people together to bring these efforts to fruition. Even during trying times, Dan remained a cheerful and understanding individual focused on doing good work for the forest and the people who live in it. Dan is survived by his wife Dawn, his daughters Emily and Ava, his parents Danny and Grace, and his brother Brett. His tremendous service to the country through his work in the U.S. Forest Service is a legacy that will improve the Six Rivers National Forest for generations to come. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring Daniel Dill and his many important contributions to Northern California and the U.S. Forest Service.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in memory of Martha D. (Patsy) White, who passed away on November 19, 2019, at the age of 90 after a lifetime of public service to her community. Born in 1929, in New York City, Ms. White spent much of her childhood with her parents in Italy and France, where her father was working prior to World War II. Later, she attended school in Boston, where she graduated high school and later from Colby Junior College in New Hampshire in 1948. She later moved to San Francisco where she met husband Peter when he was stationed with the Army in Monterey. They soon married and had two children Cordie (Cornelia) and David, before moving to Sacramento and having their third child, Chip (Frances). In 1963, the family moved to Marinwood and in 1988 they settled Novato. In 1963, Ms. White started working for the Mill Valley School District, holding several positions including receptionist, administrative assistant to three superintendents, and finally as a business manager. Ms. White went back to school and received her Bachelor of Arts with a specially designed degree in Educational Management in 1978. In addition to her work with the school district, Ms. White was also involved in the League of Women Voters for over 50 years, and she was awarded the League's Bunny Award in 2006. Ms. White also served on the Marinwood Community Services District, cofounded the Marin Housing Council, and participated in the Novato Housing Coalition and in the Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative. She also served on the North Bay YMCA Board, and was named the YMCA's volunteer of the year in 2005. In 2008, Ms. White was named Novato's Citizen of the Year. Beyond her incredible community service, Ms. White enjoyed spending her free time entertaining, traveling, swimming, going to the Y, watching and feeding local birds, knitting, needlepointing, calligraphy, and water color painting. Most of all, she loved spending time with her family and friends. Ms. White was predeceased by her husband, Peter, in 2018. She is survived by her sister Cornelia Dimmitt, her daughter Cornelia and husband George, her sons Francis White and Dr. David White and David's wife Judy, and two grandchildren, Kyle White and Dr. Ashley White. While she will be greatly missed, Ms. White's legacy will live on through the indelible positive impact she had on her community and beyond.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and I also thank her for her leadership not just on her own bill, but for leading the charge on a package of bills that includes my Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act as Title II. The lands in my district that are included in this legislation represent some of the most biodiverse ecosystems and exciting outdoor opportunities in California. It ranges from old growth trees that are so critical for carbon sequestration to rivers that provide habitat and unparalleled fishing and boating to mountain trails that offer hiking, biking, and other unique backcountry experiences. Being active in the outdoors, experiencing these wild places, and connecting to a healthy environment is a way of life in the Second District of California. My constituents and visitors from around the State and around the country take pride in these public lands, and we all depend on the ecological resources and economic benefits that they provide. That is why my legislation takes a multifaceted approach. First, it includes an ambitious restoration plan to improve forest health, promote fire resilience, and protect communities while restoring diverse ecosystems that are naturally adapted to fire and that provide fish habitat. It would also establish a partnership to restore public lands and waters that have been damaged by illegal marijuana growth sites, which pose significant threats to public health and safety, law enforcement, wildlife, and water quality. Second, it recognizes the importance of the outdoor recreation economy. In my district, residents spend almost $2 billion in outdoor recreation each year. This legislation would increase recreational opportunities and spur tourism by proposing new visitor centers, overnight lodging, and a significant expansion of trails for multiple uses, including hiking, biking, horseback riding, and off-highway vehicle use. Expanding these recreational opportunities benefits outdoor enthusiasts and the local businesses that are an integral part of the recreation economy. Investing in our public lands means that we are also investing in communities near our public lands. As Kent Collard of the Bar 717 Ranch in Trinity County told the Natural Resources Committee last year, ``The best thing we can do for these lands, for businesses like mine that depend on untrammeled tracts of wilderness, is to protect them. Like many other businesses in this area, ours is fueled by people seeking to experience the wild beauty of Trinity County. The Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act recognizes and promotes economic opportunities that recreation presents to our rural communities.'' Economic opportunities. Third, this legislation would protect important wild places on public lands in my district. It designates roughly 262,000 acres of wilderness, 51,000 acres of potential wilderness, and 480 miles of wild and scenic rivers. These areas include critical habitat for endangered salmon and steelhead, rare native plant ecosystems, and some of the largest intact old-growth forests in California. These areas also include some of the best fishing, hiking, and white-water runs in the State. Like other pieces of legislation in the package we are considering today, this takes conservation seriously because it is urgently needed for the future of our planet. Lastly, I would like to explain how this bill was developed. Over more than 3 years, in fact, not long after I came to Congress in 2013, I started asking stakeholders what policy issues should be addressed in public lands legislation in my district. I have repeatedly sat down with constituents, presented these proposals at public meetings, and discussed concerns with county supervisors. I have moved boundaries and removed wilderness proposals because of concerns from landowners, the timber industry, and Tribes. This level of stakeholder participation means that I have focused on what people in northwest California want to see with their public lands. I think this comprehensive, carefully crafted legislation has broad support.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Chair, I want to point out this bill has support from conservation organizations, outdoor recreation groups, dozens of businesses, community leaders, adjacent landowners. It is a long and broad list of support. Madam Chair, I request a favorable vote for this legislation.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in memory of Eleanor (Ellie) Bloch, who passed away on January 15, 2020, at the age of 83 after a lifetime of public service to her community. Born in 1936 in Brookline, Massachusetts, to Hymen Stutman and Nellie Wiener Stutman, Ellie graduated from Brookline High School in 1954 and then attended Boston University as a music major. She later graduated from Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania. After meeting and marrying her first husband, Harry Salesky, who passed away in 1983, they moved to New York and then Tiburon, where she remained for the next 48 years. In 1985, Ellie married Don Spater, who died 1996. She met her third husband, John Bloch, through mutual friends, and they married in 1999. Ellie was elected to represent Marin County in the California Senior Legislature in 2004, and she served in this role tirelessly up until her passing. Among her many efforts, she worked hard to help pass a state emergency plan that included best practices for local governments and municipalities to evacuate seniors and people with disabilities. She served as one the vice chairs of the Joint Rules Committee from 2013-2015, and was a member of the Housing and Transportation committee, spending days at a time in Sacramento advocating for seniors and people with disabilities. In 2017, Ellie was awarded the Moira Jackson award for distinguished service to the California Senior Legislature. In addition to her work with the California State Legislature, Ellie was a member of the legislative committee for the California Commission on Aging, served as president of the Tiburon Sunset Rotary Club, and from 2010-2018, she was an advisory board member for San Francisco State University's Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies. She also served as a board member for Family Service Agency of Marin for 20 years, and she was a board member and secretary for the Marin City Community Development Corporation and Marin City Land Corporation for 15 years. Beyond her incredible community service, Ellie was also the co- founder, coordinator, and mediator for Marin Mediation Services where she worked for 40 years. In this capacity, she was known for her ability to treat everyone who came before her fairly, toiling to reach resolutions that would benefit all parties involved. In her free time, Ellie could be found enjoying art, music, spending time with friends and family, participating in yoga classes, and at the Corinthian Yacht Club. Ellie is survived by her husband, John Bloch, and three sons, William Salesky, Joseph Salesky and Andrew Salesky, and stepchildren Julie Middlebrook, Jenni Hamilton, Andrew Bloch, Deborah Spater-Melnick, Cheryl Spater and Lori Munoz, as well as seven grandchildren, one step- grandson, four great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren. While she will be greatly missed, Ellie's legacy will live on through the indelible and positive impact she had on her family, friends and extended community. Madam Speaker, please join me in sending her loved ones our sincere condolences and warm regards.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, what if I told you there was an epidemic in the United States that has killed close to 40,000 people, just in the year 2019 alone? And what if I told you this epidemic has taken the lives of almost 8,000 people since 2014 in California alone? I am not talking about coronavirus, or Ebola, or AIDS, or some global pandemic. This public health crisis is uniquely American. I am talking, of course, about gun violence. We have let this public health epidemic go unchecked far too long. If gun violence were a disease with the death numbers I just shared with you, we would not rest until we had a cure. But because many Members of Congress are frozen in their ability to act in the face of the money the NRA pours into the gun lobby, we haven't acted; especially the Senate has not stepped up to act. This week is National Gun Violence Survivors Week, where we honor the lives lost to gun violence and share the stories of those whose lives have been affected. This disease does have a cure. We need the Senate to hear our urgency and to act on gun violence legislation now.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time, and I commend my colleague, Jackie Speier, for her leadership on this issue. And thanks also to the ranking member for recognizing the importance, the critical national importance, of the San Francisco Bay Estuary. I have the fortune of representing a beautiful district that starts at the Oregon border but goes all the way down to the Golden Gate Bridge. That means I represent a good portion of San Francisco Bay, the North Bay, where we understand all too well how much we have lost--90 percent of the Bay's wetlands have been destroyed. Starting a century and-a-half ago, there has been incredible degradation of this vital estuary beginning with the Gold Rush, continuing to massive water diversions and pollution inputs, the diking of wetlands, and so on. But despite all of that degradation, San Francisco Bay continues to play a vital role ecologically in our region and an even greater role economically. We have hundreds of billions of dollars in economic activity every year as a product of San Francisco Bay--outdoor recreation, commercial and recreational fishing, travel and tourism. And we also see the very real benefits in the San Francisco Bay area of coastal resiliency, using natural systems as a buffer against rising sea levels. The citizens of the nine-county Bay area have stepped up. We recognize the national importance of this resource, and we have supported a ballot measure to support climate adaption and restoration funding. And now it is time for the Federal Government to do its part. That is why I am so pleased to support Congresswoman Speier's bill, the San Francisco Bay Restoration Act, to provide the much-needed Federal partnership to help improve water quality in this important estuary to revive the Bay's wetlands and to protect our coastal communities and our economy. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for the time.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Adventist Health Howard Memorial Hospital for its recent five-star rating by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This rating reflects the hard work and dedication of Adventist Health Howard Memorial's staff and their commitment to high quality, patient-centered care. In 1925, members of the Willits Development Association discussed the need for a community hospital. This group included Charles S. Howard, the owner of a nearby ranch and the racehorse Seabiscuit. In 1926, Charles Howard's 15-year-old son died in an automobile accident, and the family felt a lack of emergency equipment and access to hospital facilities contributed to his death. Charles Howard donated substantial funds toward the construction of the Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital to be built in honor of his son. The hospital admitted its first patient in 1928. Of the more than 4,500 hospitals rated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) this year, Adventist Health Howard Memorial Hospital is one of only 407 hospitals to receive a five-star rating. This rating is based on the hospital's performance across seven metrics of quality, including patient experience and readmission rates. In addition to this rating, the hospital recently received a Planetree Gold Certification which reflects ``Excellence in Person- Centered Care''. It is an evidence-based certification program that provides a framework for healthcare providers to improve overall health and well-being by engaging patients, families, staff, and the wider community in tailoring medical care to meet the needs of individual patients. Madam Speaker, Adventist Health Howard Memorial Hospital's receipt of these prestigious designations showcases the high standard of care provided by this important rural, critical-access hospital. Please join me in congratulating the leadership and staff responsible for these achievements.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise with my colleague Representative Mike Thompson to recognize Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman on the occasion of his retirement from a long and distinguished career in law enforcement. Thirty-four years of Sheriff Allman's career were spent with Mendocino County Sheriff's Department, where he provided the County with steadfast and effective leadership through major disasters and emergencies, while simultaneously working tirelessly to make Mendocino County a leader in mental health reform. Born in Sylva, North Carolina, Sheriff Allman grew up between Northern California and North Carolina. After graduating from high school in 1979, he pursued a career in firefighting with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in San Bernardino County. He returned to Northern California and attended California State University, Chico and the Fire Academy at Butte College. He soon transitioned into a law enforcement career with the Fairfield Police Department in 1982, and joined the Mendocino County Sheriff's Department three years later in 1985. After his promotion to Lieutenant in 1988, Sheriff Allman made the difficult decision to temporarily volunteer with the United States Department of State as a civilian peacekeeper following the Kosovo War. He served for 12 months as a police presence in 1999, an experience which he has credited with influencing much of his later career, and which began a long history of volunteerism that continued throughout his professional life. He volunteered to support law enforcement efforts following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and traveled with his local Rotary Club to Southern India in the wake of the 2004 tsunami to build an orphanage. Sheriff Allman was first elected to the office of Mendocino County Sheriff in 2006, and he served continuously until his retirement in December 2019. Sheriff Allman's 13 years of service in that role have provided continuity and stability for the County through major disasters including the catastrophic wildfires in 2017 and 2018 as well as numerous other challenges faced by the County of Mendocino. He has been a tireless advocate for making broad structural improvements to mental health resources, while prioritizing the difficult work of investigating serious crimes. Sheriff Allman's legacy and achievements will continue to be felt in Mendocino County through numerous anti-recidivism programs he spearheaded at the County Jail, including a baking program, resume writing course, and a robust General Education Diploma (GED) program. One of his most significant achievements was the passage of a funding measure for the Mental Health Treatment Act, which has raised roughly $10 million to date. Sheriff Allman will continue to serve on the Measure B Committee as the Sheriff's Designee. Madam Speaker, Sheriff Tom Allman has shown throughout his long and distinguished career his dedication to public service and the people of Mendocino County. He has drawn from his personal and professional experiences to apply empathy and problem solving for the betterment of the many individuals and groups he has served over the course of his professional and volunteer life. His commitment to the issues that matter most to his community, and his ability to deliver results, are testaments to his skill and his dedication to law enforcement and public service. I hope you will join us and the community, his family, and many friends in celebrating Sheriff Allman's many accomplishments and in wishing him success and good fortune in his future endeavors.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Dale Kline who is being honored as the Citizen of the Year by the City of Novato for his exemplary public service. Born in 1961 in Winslow, Arizona, Mr. Kline and his family lived in many places while his stepfather was in the Navy. They moved to Exmouth Western Australia when Mr. Kline was 14 where he learned to fly gliders and excel in many sports. After his stepfather was tragically killed in a car accident, Mr. Kline's family moved back to California and settled in San Diego. Imbued with a strong sense of duty, Mr. Kline started volunteering for the American Red Cross when he was just 17 years old, He met his wife in 1979 during a summer college course for high school students, and they married in 1984. When they moved to Novato in 1998, Mr. Kline immediately became involved in the community as a Little League volunteer and coach for his sons' teams. Later, in 2000, Mr. Kline expanded his volunteer roles by joining the Novato Youth Soccer Association. In addition to taking on coaching roles, he joined its board of directors as an Age Group Coordinator, and later served as its Vice President. In addition to taking courses to become a coach, he became a certified soccer referee and worked tirelessly to mentor youth referees. He was honored with the Boys' Coach of the Year award for his positive attitude and encouraging coaching style. When his sons started high school, Mr. Kline began volunteering with the Novato High School Athletic Boosters program, which was struggling financially. He took on leadership roles and led fundraising activities, collecting over half a million dollars in donations. In 2009, Mr. Kline received a certificate of special recognition for his volunteer efforts from the Novato Unified School District and an honorary service award from the Novato High School Parent-Teacher- Student Association. Even after his youngest graduated from Novato High School, Mr. Kline continued to volunteer and support the academic boosters. In 2011, after many years of service, he was awarded the Golden Oak Service Award from the California State Parent Teacher Association. In 2010, Mr. Kline joined the board of directors of School Fuel, the Novato Foundation for Public Education, where he still volunteers today nearly a decade later. He has also been the executive director of Tour of Novato and Fun Fair for the past ten years, where he continues provide stellar community service to the City of Novato. He works closely with the Novato Parks and Recreation, and the Novato Police Department to coordinate an annual event enjoyed by many near and far. Mr. Kline has also served on the Novato Unified School District Bond Oversight Committee, and since 2018 has been a board member on the Novato Chamber of Commerce. Beyond the positive and indelible impact Mr. Kline has on his community through numerous roles of the course of many years, his most important roles are that of husband and father. Madam Speaker, please join me in expressing deep appreciation for Mr. Kline's commitment to bettering his community and in wishing him the best of luck in all his future endeavors.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Ms. Lyons Filmer on the occasion of her retirement as radio station KWMR's long- standing program director. Ms. Filmer has been associated with KWMR, a nonprofit radio station located in Point Reyes, California, for nearly two decades and is a cherished and vital voice of the community. A native of San Francisco, Ms. Filmer is a graduate of Middlebury College in Vermont, where she studied sociology and worked on the college radio station. Upon graduation, she returned to the San Francisco Bay Area and worked as a volunteer programmer at KPFA in Berkeley. Ms. Filmer joined KWMR in 1999. She was quickly promoted to Program Manager as the station undertook technical upgrades, gained its FM broadcast license from the Federal Communications Commission, and expanded its reach and signal into other parts of West Marin. During her tenure at KWMR, she has featured countless local luminaries, activists, and artists on the station, and has ably hosted the local news segment Epicenter and KWMR's on-air literacy program, Turning Pages. She was part of a leadership team that now finds KWMR on three different FM signals in Marin County, and a station whose signal can now be heard deep into Sonoma County. The station's role as emergency- services beacon for the region has extended in recent years as the region has been beset by floods, fires, droughts, and earthquakes. In her capacity as Program Director, Ms. Filmer has trained numerous on-air hosts as part of the station's mandate to be a community resource for all. As a DJ, her confident and mellifluous voice sets the standard for a top-tier radio personality. Ms. Filmer can be heard, by turns, informing her audience about a local news event, reading from non-fiction books about nature, and celebrating a new album of contemporary music. Known around the KWMR offices for her good humor, attention to detail, and tenacious loyalty to her beloved KWMR, Ms. Filmer's successful career may be most notable for her zeal for forging lasting connections in her community. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring Lyons Filmer for her many years of incomparable leadership at KWMR. While Ms. Filmer is stepping down as Program Director, she has pledged to continue to be an on-air presence at the station. Her leadership will be missed, but I join with her many listeners who look forward to hearing from Ms. Filmer in her new role and wishing her well on her future endeavors.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in memory of Kathleen Weber, who passed away on January 18, 2020, at the age of 75 after a lifetime of public service to her community. Born in Santa Rosa on August 27, 1944, Kathleen was raised by her father who worked in the insurance industry and her mother who designed costumes for the Santa Rosa Junior College theater program. She met and fell in love with Ed Weber at in the theater program at Santa Rosa Junior College and married him in 1964. Kathleen worked in the medical field and the former Mattei Brothers clothing store, before embarking on what became an outstanding and renowned baking career. Kathleen's father-in-law introduced her to baking bread on his personal wood-burning oven. This quickly became a full-time hobby for Kathleen, which blossomed into a profession through study under renowned brick-oven baker Alan Scott. The Webers fashioned their own oven based on Mr. Scott's design, and proceeded to launch a business that has since been credited with renewing the appeal of slow-rise bread regionally. Their biggest break came when they became the bread supplier to Thomas Keller, world famous chef and owner of French Laundry restaurant. Mr. Keller later became a close friend and collaborator with the Webers. In 2004, the Webers opened Della Fattoria as a breakfast, lunch, and weekend brunch restaurant where Kathleen worked tirelessly to welcome patrons and give back to her hometown community. Around 2016, the Webers' son, Chef Aaron, started a prix-fixe dinner menu focusing on the farm-to-table method Kathleen had started with Della Breads, and in 2018, added to it a full dinner menu. In 2019, Della Fattoria undertook a large dining hall expansion onto two adjacent properties, and their daughter, Elisa, oversaw the interior design and fabrication of the furniture, making the business venture another full family effort. One of the first on the West Coast to commercially produce bread using the brick oven process, Kathleen and her family took local door- to-door offerings into a regional and high demand delicacy. She became a published author with ``Della Fattoria Bread,'' a recipe book seeking to make high-quality baking more accessible to the home cook. In addition to her culinary contributions to the community and support of the local food movement and local business chamber, Kathleen's public service expanded to include providing meals to first responders in Petaluma during the Sonoma County wildfires. She is credited for always looking for new ways to get Petaluma on the map. Kathleen is survived by her husband Ed, her two children Aaron and Elisa, and her two grandsons Jakob and Samuel. While she will be greatly missed by many, Kathleen Weber's legacy will live on through the indelible positive impact she had on this community and beyond.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in memory of Edward ``Boone'' Green, who passed away on September 30, 2019, at the age of 74 after a lifetime of exemplary service to his community. Born in 1945 in Monroe, Louisiana, Mr. Green's family migrated to California in search of well-paying factory jobs and settled in Marin City when he was ten years old. His parents found employment with Marinship Corporation. As a young man, Mr. Green attended Tamalpais High School, and he developed what became a lifelong passion for boxing. In 1989, he became a boxing coach and established the only boxing club in Marin City. The Marin Boxing Club quickly grew from a small outdoor training program into a full-scale training facility at the Marin City Recreation Center. He also established the non-profit One Kid at a Time. Mr. Green used boxing as vehicle to teach important life skills, including health and nutrition and the importance of a strong work ethic. Eventually, Mr. Green went on to teach fitness and boxing classes for adults at College of Marin. Mr. Green was known as a tough coach, always expecting the best from his fighters, and he was regarded for his kindness and generosity. Mr. Green discreetly offered financial assistance to single mothers throughout the community and opened his home to young men in need of support. Mr. Green was a well-respected member of the community who will be remembered for his generous spirit, passion for boxing, and commitment to religion. He is survived by his wife Ida Green, his children Apollo and Grace Green, a grandson, as well as his large extended family. While he will be greatly missed, Mr. Green's legacy will live on through the indelible positive impact he had on his many friends, family, and the community at large.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in memory of Grail Dawson, who passed away on November 21, 2019, at the age of 99 after a lifetime devoted to serving his country and community. The youngest of four siblings, Mr. Dawson was born in Washington, D.C. in June 1920. He attended George Washington University and obtained a degree in Chemistry. Mr. Dawson volunteered for military service in the United States Navy shortly after the start of World War II. He completed officer training at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, and received a commission of Lieutenant, assigned to duty on landing ships in the South Pacific Theater. Mr. Dawson served in combat as a Landing Ship Officer at Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Iwo Jima, and the Philippines. In Bougainville, he served as Beachmaster for a landing under fire. Mr. Dawson received both the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal with 5 Battle Stars and the Philippine Liberation Medal. Upon his return from active duty, Mr. Dawson served a 30-year career as a Federal government employee, working for the Bureau of Reclamation in Washington, D.C., Idaho, Montana, and Sacramento. While stationed in Boise, Idaho, he met his wife Laverne, who he was married to for 30 years and with whom he had his two daughters. Following his wife's death in 1977, Mr. Dawson moved to Mendocino County to be closer to his daughters. It was there that he met Betty Barber, who was his life partner for the next 42 years until his death. In Mendocino, Grail immersed himself in civic activities, working as a reporter for the Mendocino News service for seven years and serving eight years on the Board of Directors of the Mendocino City Community Services District. Mr. Dawson was an active member of the Mendocino Citizen's Advisory Committee and was the primary author of the first Mendocino Town Plan, working tirelessly to help preserve the small-town character and historical value of Mendocino. Mr. Dawson was an active volunteer in numerous community groups, including the Fort Bragg Food Bank, Fort Bragg Library and the Grey Panthers. His crowning achievement was the revitalization of the Mendocino Land Trust with his partner Betty Barber. Mr. Dawson served for nearly 20 years on the board of trustees and a cumulative six years as president of the board. His commitment and dedication to the organization took the Land Trust from a small kitchen table organization to a highly effective conservation organization that counted among its successes the restoration and conservation of more than 7,000 acres along the Big River estuary. Mr. Dawson was a dedicated public servant whose life exemplified the values of civic engagement and service. He is survived by his daughters Daney Dawson and Debra Dawson, his partner Betty Barber, her daughters Terry and Lisa, and grandsons Allegro D'Albert, Dylan Nicolle, and Micah Cooper. He had a son, David Dawson, deceased, by his first wife, and he leaves two grandchildren from this marriage, Sean Dawson and Shannon Dawson Westphal of Maryland, and three great grandchildren. While Mr. Dawson will be greatly missed, his legacy will live on through the positive impact he and his work had on the lives of his friends, family, and the Mendocino Coast.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in memory of Fred Mayer, who passed away on December 10, 2019, at the age of 86 after a lifetime of exemplary public service to his community. Fred Mayer was born in Kansas City to Anna Landie Mayer and Maximillian Philip Mayer. His father died when he was just six months old and his mother reluctantly placed Fred and his older sister in Jewish orphanages in Kansas City and Denver while trying to secure employment to support the family. Mr. Mayer would later credit his time in the Jewish orphanages with helping to develop his great sense of justice. He would go on to champion causes that served the greater community and would always put others above himself. When he was eight, the family reunited and moved to San Francisco. At the age of 12, Mr. Mayer started working at local pharmacies and later went on to graduate from Lowell High School, the University of California, Berkeley, and in 1954, the pharmacy school at University of California San Francisco. After graduating with his pharmacy degree, Mr. Mayer served in the United States Army where he ran a mobile surgical unit in Germany. Following his service in the Army, Mr. Mayer met and married Jacqueline Levy Mayer in 1958, and a year later, they settled in San Rafael, CA. In 1963, Mr. Mayer bought Sausalito Pharmacy and operated it for 33 years. Mr. Mayer used his pharmacy as a place to educate the community on various public health issues including the dangers of smoking and the need for safe sex education. In the 1970s, Mr. Mayer started a methadone program from within the pharmacy, and after a close friend of his died of cancer, the pharmacy became one of the first drugstores in the nation to stop the sale of tobacco. In 1974, Mr. Mayer went back to school at the University of California, Berkeley, to obtain a master's degree. Soon after, he founded a non-profit organization, Pharmacy Planning Service Inc., where he continued to deliver much needed community education on public health. Known to all around him as larger-than-life, Mr. Mayer worked well into his later years. Most recently, he worked to educate medical cannabis users about interactions with other medications that might be harmful. He was also well known for his Great American Smokeout campaigns, bolstering National Condom Week, and his crusade to put child safety caps on prescription medications. Mr. Mayer was a well-respected community leader who will be remembered for his dominant spirit and commitment to public service. He is survived by his daughter Heidi and his sons David and Charles. While he will be greatly missed, Mr. Mayer's legacy will live on through the indelible positive impact he had on his many friends and family and the community at large.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, as we take this solemn, necessary step of impeaching President Trump, my Republican colleagues have made up their minds. We can't persuade them to do the right thing, so I will address my remarks to the future. Today's vote will be judged by future generations, including my precious children, Abby and Nathan--maybe grandkids. Historians will study what Members of this Congress did when our democracy was tested like never before by a President who put personal interests above country, who compromised national security to cheat his way to reelection and, when caught, not only lied and refused to admit wrongdoing, but flouted Congress' authority. He even called the constitutional impeachment mechanism unconstitutional. Historians will marvel how some Members of Congress continued to stand by this man; how they put blind, partisan loyalty or fear of Donald Trump above their duty to defend the Constitution; how they made absurd partisan arguments and tried to obstruct these proceedings; and how, instead of pushing back when their party fell under the dark spell of authoritarianism, they embraced it as if the Constitution, the rule of law, and our oath of office mean nothing. Madam Speaker, for our future generations, our children, the judgment of history, let me be clear: I stand with our Constitution, with the rule of law and our democracy. I will be voting ``yes'' to impeach Donald J. Trump.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Chair, it is great to follow those warm, bipartisan remarks from my friend from Michigan, because, after all, even though you wouldn't know it from the ranking member's remarks, we are here to consider a package of bipartisan bills that provide commonsense, science-based solutions for issues facing our coastal communities. These bills reflect putting aside our differences and looking at the facts for the sake of our constituents in coastal economies around this country. Last week, I attended the U.N. Climate Conference in Madrid. We were focused on international action on climate change, and specifically, the role of the oceans. Because of climate change, coastal cities will be devastated from sea-level rise, and commercial fisheries could be either totally collapsed or moved beyond the reach of our coastal communities, all in my children's lifetimes. So, yes, adaptation and mitigation will be costly, but the cost of doing nothing is exponentially higher. And the cost of inaction continues to increase every day that special interests concerned with keeping the status quo are put ahead of our oceans, our coasts, and future generations. Now, this package of bills will provide tools and resources coastal communities need to prepare for the impacts of climate change and to protect local economies. One section is based on my bill, the National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act. It updates the Sea Grant program to better respond to the needs of the coastal communities through research, education, and extension programs. It also helps develop the coastal and marine research and policy workforce that our country needs to respond to these challenges. Reauthorizing this important program is critical. To date, the program has improved the resilience of 462 coastal communities. It has also been an incredibly successful program in terms of leveraging Federal resources with State and local funds to meet the growing needs of these communities. Last year, Sea Grant's work supported over 7,000 jobs, over 1,500 businesses, and it resulted in $624 million in economic benefits. This program consistently has bipartisan support because of its effectiveness and importance to communities around this country. So, again, I thank the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case).

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in memory of Gary Frugoli, who passed away on November 19, 2019, at the age of 72 after a lifetime of exemplary public service to his community. Born in 1947, Mr. Frugoli moved with his family as a toddler to Marin where his parents owned and operated Marin Produce. He attended San Rafael High school where he was a star football player and continued to play football at Chico State University. He graduated in 1969 with a degree in Political Science and Recreation. After college, Mr. Frugoli worked for the San Rafael Parks and Recreation Department, but soon joined the San Rafael Police Department where he worked his way up the ranks from motorcycle officer to detective with the Major Crimes Task Force and the San Rafael SWAT team. During his time at the San Rafael Police Department, Mr. Frugoli met and fell in love with his wife, Lori who was working as a meter maid at the time. The couple was married in 1980 and later had a daughter named Amy. Mr. Frugoli's passion for public service grew, and in 1981, he was elected to the San Rafael City Council where he served with distinction. During his tenure on the San Rafael City Council, Mr. Frugoli developed a reputation for supporting business and housing growth which were not popular issues at the time. In 1989, after losing his re-election bid, the Frugoli family moved to Novato where he continued to perform community service through a variety of activities and where the family enjoyed time recreating outdoors. Professionally, he worked for Pacific Coast Title while he was on the San Rafael City Council and then for Cal Title when he moved to Novato. Active in many aspects of Marin County, one of Mr. Frugoli's favorite causes was the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, where he consistently raised funds to help feed local families. He also served as president of the San Rafael Rotary Club and was an active member of the Sonoma County Trailblazers. He was a Little League coach and a founding member of the Marin Athletic Foundation, which focused on the importance of combining sports and educational opportunities. He served on the Marin Builder's Association Board of Directors, the Marin County Services Area No. 20, the Fish and Wildlife Commission, and his homeowner's association. In 2010, Mr. Frugoli was named the Marin County Italian American Citizen of the Year. Mr. Frugoli was a well-respected community leader who will be remembered for his ebullience and willingness to always step up to help people out. He is survived by his wife Lori, his daughter Amy, his brother Victor, his sister Virginia Kerbs, and many nieces and nephews. While he will be greatly missed, Mr. Frugoli's legacy will live on through the indelible positive impact he had on his friends and family and the community at large.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I regret that due to a scheduling conflict on November 21, 2019, I was unable to cast the following votes. Should I have been present, I would have voted NO on roll call 637, AYE on roll call 638, AYE on roll call 639, AYE on roll call 640, AYE on roll call 641, and AYE on roll call 642.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I commend Congressman Marshall for that very moving presentation and for the impressive history that he recounted of the 1st Infantry Division. This is a great bill, an important bill, and I know we are all very proud to support it. I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1446) to require the United States Postal Service to continue selling the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp until all remaining stamps are sold, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1446. It is a bill that would require the U.S. Postal Service to continue selling the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp. It would require those continued sales until such time as the remaining stamps are sold. Now, since 2010, these stamps have been sold by the U.S. Postal Service to support international conservation efforts, but the authorization for these sales has expired, leaving 49 million stamps unsold--printed, but unsold. Americans care deeply about wildlife, and by purchasing these stamps, they can support the Multinational Species Conservation Fund, which includes five grant programs that support the conservation of African and Asian elephants, great apes, marine turtles, rhinos and tigers. Between 2011 and 2017, the stamp sales from this program generated $3.9 million, and that money went to conservation projects related to antipoaching, capacity building, community engagement and outreach, habitat restoration, and raising public awareness of wildlife trafficking. Mr. Speaker, 49 million stamps have already been printed. They are sitting and waiting to be sold. This bill doesn't authorize the printing of any new stamps, but it does direct the U.S. Postal Service to continue selling the stamps it has printed until they are exhausted. At a time when so many species are threatened with extinction due to climate change, habitat loss, and exploitation, we must do more to protect wildlife. Mr. Speaker, I do not have another speaker at this point, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC, September 30, 2019. Hon. Elijah E. Cummings, Chair, Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representatives, Washington DC. Dear Chair Cummings: I write to you concerning H.R. 1446 the, ``Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Reauthorization Act of 2019.'' I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this legislation. I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Oversight and Reform. I acknowledge that your Committee will not formally consider H.R. 1446 and agree that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the matters contained in the bill that fall within your Committee's Rule X jurisdiction. I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and look forward to continuing to work with you as this measure moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, Raul M. Grijalva, Chair, House Natural Resources Committee.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Webster for his engagement on this issue. I think his intentions are noble. I think he wants to help end the global shark fin trade. Unfortunately, though, his bill just won't work. We did incorporate some of that bill, the part, frankly, that would not cost a lot of money. By doing so, we added skates and rays to the seafood import monitoring program. That is a good suggestion, because skates and rays are also not doing well globally, and they deserve our attention. But the rest of the bill is expensive, cumbersome, and, frankly, it is just not going to work. It would require a complicated, expensive certification scheme that might sound good on paper, but we know the real world that we live in. In the marine fisheries management in the United States right now, we are years, and sometimes decades, behind having the resources we need for adequate and timely stock assessments, even for the fisheries that we are already trying to manage right now. So the idea that we would somehow be able to do this, be able to afford it, and also do it in a way that we could comply with in this country so we could hold other countries around the world to that standard, if we are unable to do all of that stuff, then requiring other countries to meet that standard would trigger a WTO violation and we would do nothing to help end the global shark fin trade. Again, I appreciate the gentleman's interest in this issue. I know that Florida has been said to be the heart of the opposition to this bill, but we should note that 19 members of the Florida delegation support this bill, including 6 Republicans in the Florida delegation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, again, I agree with my friend: We should listen to the scientists--not the two who my friend cited in his closing arguments, but how about the over 150 who are on record in support of this bill? We should listen to them. We should listen to the many States and territories and other nations, including, recently, Canada, our neighbor to the north. We should listen to the many corporate leaders around the world, all of whom have reached the inevitable conclusion that, if you are serious about ending this wasteful and inhumane and horrific practice of shark finning, then you have to tackle the shark fin trade; you have to ban the possession and sale of shark fins, because, if you don't, we know here in the United States we have banned the practice of shark finning for years, and yet we have continued to be part of and contributed to the global shark fin trade because we don't ban the possession and trade and sale of the fin itself. That is what this bill does. And in terms of U.S. fishermen who are, as my friend says, following the laws and doing everything right, well, the good news is they are going to be just fine under this law. We know that because, in States like California, Oregon, Texas, and other places, folks who want to continue fishing for shark meat have been able to do so, even though those States have passed bans just like this on the possession, trade, and sale of shark fins. This is a good bill. It is an overwhelmingly bipartisan bill. It is a bill that includes support from 19 members of the Florida delegation, including 6 Republicans from that delegation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.