Jared Huffman

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory of Tanya Skeen, a victim of gun violence who never received a moment of silence on the House floor.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, in honor of the memory of two of my constituents: former Deputy Sheriff Rick Del Fiorentino and former Fort Bragg Councilman Jere Melo. They are both victims of gun violence who never received a moment of silence on this House floor.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, the whole point of the Democratic sit-in to demand congressional action on gun violence was to say that empty gestures and moments of silence for 30 seconds, followed by the bang of a gavel and resumption of business as usual will not be tolerated anymore in the face of this national gun violence epidemic. Yet this week, our Republican colleagues are bringing forward a bill, written and blessed by the NRA, that is yet another empty gesture--a glorified moment of silence--because it establishes a completely arbitrary and artificial 72-hour timeframe and unreasonable standards that must be met within that timeframe. I can't get my dry cleaning back in 72 hours, yet the NRA and our Republican friends expect the Attorney General to come forward, serve process, have a defendant hire an attorney, show up at a hearing, and prove with probable cause as the standard that this individual is about to commit an act of terror? Give me a break. No more empty gestures. No more moments of silence that are completely disingenuous, including this glorified moment of silence that Republicans are bringing forward this week.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Coast Guard Training Center Petaluma in Sonoma County, California, on their 45th year of operations. The Training Center, the Coast Guard's largest on the West Coast, plays an essential role in training and developing their workforce and carrying out the mission of the organization. Originally known as Two Rock Station, the 876-acre property was purchased by the United States Army in 1942 to serve as an electronic intercept station during World War II. During the Vietnam War, it was expanded to include training facilities for Army soldiers. On July 1, 1971, the United States Coast Guard took over ownership of the facility, renaming the site and expanding the property's functionality with new barracks, family housing units, and a water treatment plant. Today, the Training Center serves as home to more than 650 active duty service members, civilian employees, and military family members. Each year, more than 3,000 students attend basic and advanced career training courses to become cooks, medics, yeomen, information technicians, operations specialists, and more. The Training Center also hosts leadership courses like the Chief Petty Officers Academy, which prepares members of the service's senior enlisted corps for their roles as front-line leaders and mentors. Mr. Speaker, it is therefore fitting that we congratulate the United States Coast Guard Training Center Petaluma on its 45th year of operations, and thank the Center and its people for its contributions to our nation's safety, security and environmental stewardship.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, it seems that when it comes time to attempt another repeal of the Affordable Care Act, House Republicans are willing to bring an unlimited number of bills to this floor, consume an almost unlimited amount of this House's resources. It seems that Congress is always ready to act and always ready to have debates and votes on their favorite issues for their favorite special interests. But when it comes to the worsening gun violence epidemic in America, we are back to the moments of silence. We are back to the banging of the gavel, the 30 seconds, at best, of silence, followed by another bang of that gavel and the resumption of business as usual; no meaningful debates, no meaningful votes. And we are now hearing that this week we are going to get a glorified moment of silence, a bill, written and blessed by the NRA, that would not keep guns out of the hands of terrorists or other dangerous people because it imposes a completely arbitrary 72-hour time window within which standards must be met that are simply unachievable. The prosecutor, the U.S. attorney, the Attorney General, must somehow, within this 72-hour window, marshal evidence that meets a probable cause standard that an individual is about to commit an act of terror, serve process on this individual, make sure that individual has been able to hire an attorney, and give that individual the opportunity to show up at a hearing and present their side of the case. If none of that happens within 72 hours, guess what. They get to proceed right to their gun purchase. So this is not meaningful gun violence reform. This is window dressing. This is cosmetic. It is a glorified moment of silence. If we defeat the previous question on the 4,000th attempt to repeal or undermine ObamaCare, we can get serious about this issue. We can show the American people that we are listening to their voices and that we take seriously the thousands of people who are killed by gun violence each and every year. We can bring forward bills that will make a difference--and that is what we should do, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, the boogeyman of Russian coal and Vladimir Putin really do strain credulity. In addition to the option of buying coal in Germany itself, which would obviously be one way to do this, as my colleague, Mr. McClintock, points out, there is abundant coal alternatives if they want to buy coal in Poland, our NATO ally, or in Ukraine, an ally that we would like to help in lots of ways as they strive for independence and economic development under the boot of Vladimir Putin's Russia. The last thing that was raised, the fact that somehow the language in the base bill would not require coal from Pennsylvania, is also a red herring. The language in this bill that says domestically sourced energy is required and other provisions effectively mean that the status quo--the sweetheart arrangement with one specific coal company in Pennsylvania--would be the only way that the Air Force could comply with this requirement. So let's reiterate our bipartisan opposition to this wasteful, zombie earmark. I ask for an ``aye'' vote. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the other gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock).

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire as to the balance of my time?

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, I stand, once again, today to offer an amendment with my fellow Californian, Tom McClintock, and I have to say this is a deja vu moment. Just last year, Mr. McClintock and I worked together, on a bipartisan basis, to finally strike a wasteful provision that was in the 2016 Defense Appropriations Act and had been in many previous Defense Appropriations Acts. Our amendment, which passed overwhelmingly in this House, would save taxpayers millions of dollars by ending an outdated earmark mandating that the Defense Department ship coal from a certain part of Pennsylvania, 4,000 miles across the planet, to American bases in Germany. Somehow, this zombie provision from the deepest days of the cold war and the golden era of congressional earmarks, when you could go into a bill like this and arrange a sweetheart deal for a certain district and a certain coal company, somehow that provision was snuck back into this year's bill. It just won't die. Now, for years, the Department of Defense and the President's annual budget has urged Congress to get rid of this provision, to allow the use of cheaper fuels to power its military bases in Germany. But because of certain special interests, the provision has persisted. It is a terrible deal for the American taxpayers, for the environment, but it has persisted. Now that finally changed last year, and our amendment not only passed this House but it passed by a vote of 252-179. In this House, that is what we call a home run. Like a bad sequel, this earmark is back once again, sneaking into the 2017 bill under a new name. Now don't let the new wording trick you. The practical implications and the intent are exactly the same as the old zombie earmark language. Congress worked on a bipartisan basis last year to kill this bad idea, and it should do so again because the bottom line is that taxpayers should not be paying to ship coal, or any other energy source, 4,000 miles across the planet to a certain facility in Germany. We should give the Air Force the same flexibility to meet its energy needs that every other U.S. military installation around the world has. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, June 7, and Wednesday, June 8, 2016, I was absent for roll call votes 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, & 275. Had I been present for roll call vote 269, H. Con. Res. 129-- Expressing support for the goal of ensuring that all Holocaust victims live with dignity, comfort, and security in their remaining years, and urging the Federal Republic of Germany to reaffirm its commitment to this goal through a financial commitment to comprehensively address the unique health and welfare needs of vulnerable Holocaust victims, including home care and other medically prescribed needs, as amended, I would have voted ``yes''. Had I been present for roll call vote 270, H.R. 4906--To amend title 5, United States Code, to clarify the eligibility of employees of a land management agency in a time-limited appointment to compete for a permanent appointment at any Federal agency, and for other purposes, I would have voted ``yes''. Had I been present for roll call vote 271, H.R. 4904--MEGABYTE Act of 2016, I would have voted ``yes''. Had I been present for roll call vote 272, H.R. 1815--Eastern Nevada Land Implementation Improvement Act, I would have voted ``yes''. Had I been present for roll call vote 273, motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 4775, H. Con. Res. 89 and H. Con. Res 112, I would have voted ``no''. Had I been present for roll call vote 274, H. Res. 767--Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 4775--Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2016, H. Con. Res. 89--Expressing the sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to the United States economy, and H. Con. Res. 112--Expressing the sense of Congress opposing the President's proposed $10 tax on every barrel of oil, I would have voted ``no''. Had I been present for roll call vote 275, HR. 3826--Mount Hood Cooper Spur Land Exchange Clarification Act, I would have voted ``yes''.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to these two resolutions. The first one, H. Con. Res. 89, says that a carbon tax would necessarily be detrimental to the United States economy. This is false. Plain and simple. The truth is that we can and we must design carbon pollution reduction strategies to spur advancements in clean energy technology, reduce carbon pollution, and fight climate change. These strategies, including a carbon tax or a fee, can easily be designed to be revenue-neutral, and we know from long experience at the State and Federal level that fighting pollution is good for jobs and good for the economy. California is a perfect example. If anyone has questions about this, come to California, where you will see that climate leadership is actually also good economics. It doesn't seem to matter to my colleagues who have offered these resolutions. In the year 2016, they continue to deny the reality of climate change. Literally, our friends across the aisle are the last policymakers on the planet Earth to hold this view. Even in other oil- producing companies, the conservative parties in those countries acknowledge climate change, and they have positions in their party platforms that acknowledge we need to do something about it. Now, the other resolution, H. Con. Res. 112, similarly demonstrates a lack of leadership by opposing President Obama's proposal to finance infrastructure investments. Those who don't support the President's infrastructure financing mechanism, I think, have a responsibility to offer their own solutions for our infrastructure crisis. This bill doesn't do that. Instead, it simply describes a desire to support Big Oil. So here we have it: climate denial; the party that doesn't want to fill vacancies on the Supreme Court; a party that doesn't want to do its job to respond to public health crises, like Zika; a party that prefers not to offer any solutions on our critical infrastructure funding needs. Is this how we are going to make America great again? I don't think so. Let's move forward in the 21st century and not let our energy and infrastructure policies be driven by 18th century thinking. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose both of these bills.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, 444. That is the number of times Lynn Woolsey came to this floor, stood at that podium right over there, and addressed this House during Special Orders, speaking against war and in support of peace. Lynn Woolsey, for 20 years, represented much of my congressional district. My colleagues here in Congress will remember her as a passionate and outspoken advocate--a leader--in the effort to strengthen our national security without war. One of the ways that she did that was through her hundreds of Special Order hour speeches. In the final one of these, No. 444, she said the following: ``Sometimes I've been accused of wanting a `perfect world.' But I consider that a compliment. Our Founders strove to form a `more perfect Union.' Why shouldn't we aim for a perfect world? You see, I'm absolutely certain that if we don't work toward a perfect world, we won't ever come close to providing a safe, healthy, and secure world for our grandchildren and their grandchildren.'' She is with her grandchildren Carlo and Luca here today. Let us thank Lynn Woolsey for her service, and let's urge all Members of Congress to approach our work with the same tenacity and resolve to work together toward peace, health, and security for all.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with Representative Mike Thompson in memory of our friend, Jimmy Smith, who passed away on May 24, 2016, at the age of 67. A third generation Humboldt County native, Jimmy was woven into the fabric of California's North Coast as a commercial fisherman, avid outdoorsman, dedicated public servant, and community leader. Born in Eureka on July 11, 1948, to James L. Smith and Jean Withey, Jimmy graduated from Eureka High in 1966. In 1972, Jimmy bought a salmon and crab fishing boat, which he operated out of Humboldt Bay for 30 years. He became a respected and expert fisherman known for his uncanny ability to locate salmon. Jimmy was also a lifelong hunter with a passion for ducks and geese, especially black brant. During his time as a commercial fisherman, Jimmy also volunteered and worked on numerous fisheries and wildlife surveys throughout the area with the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, California Department of Fish & Game, California Waterfowl Association, and Humboldt Fish Action Council. He co-chaired the Task Force for the Humboldt Bay Management Plan, served as the fishing industry representative to the Klamath River Basin Fisheries Technical Work Group, and was appointed by Interior Secretary Babbit to the Trinity Task Force. In 1995, Jimmy was elected to the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District and served until 2000, where he worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deepen Humboldt Bay to improve safety and accommodate deep-draft ships. Jimmy was then elected to the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors in 2000, a position he served in for 12 years. His achievements, which he always credited to those he worked with, are too many to record. Among them were working tirelessly to clean up the South Spit of Humboldt Bay--now the Mike Thompson Wildlife Area; helping broker agreements meant to tear out the Klamath River's fish-blocking dams; and efforts to improve flows on the Eel River and protect fisheries on the Klamath, Trinity and Eel rivers. During his term as supervisor, Jimmy was a primary visionary and co- founder of the seven-county North Coast Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (now the North Coast Resource Partnership) and the Five-Counties Salmonid Conservation Program. Jimmy was named National Fisherman Magazine Highliner of the Year in 1983 and received numerous other recognitions, including the John Pelnar Commercial Fisherman Award in 1984 and awards from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, California Waterfowl Association, U.S. Coast Guard, Eureka Chamber of Commerce, Elks Club, and the Humboldt County League of Women Voters. He was a member and the chair of the Commercial Salmon Trollers Advisory Committee and California Salmon Stamp Committee. Jimmy Smith was a champion of the North Coast and the conservation of its natural resources. He had a profound impact on so many people, often serving as a valued friend, partner, and mentor. He quietly led by example and earned his reputation as a true gentleman known for creating partnerships, responsive leadership, treating everyone with respect, generosity of spirit, kindness, and integrity. Those who knew him best appreciated his witty sense of humor and love for teasing those he liked. Jimmy is survived by his soul mate and wife of more than 40 years, Jacque; his son Gary; his granddaughters Shawni Chrislock and her husband Kohl, and McKayla Smith; his sisters Laurie Smith and Marnie Carr; and nieces, nephews and cousins. He also leaves behind many friends who loved him and will miss him dearly. Few are as beloved and widely respected as Jimmy Smith, who made such a difference in the lives of so many and in his community. We both considered him a friend and relied on him for his wise counsel, as did our staffs and our colleagues in state and local government. Mr. Speaker, it is fitting that we honor Jimmy today for his decades of commitment to the North Coast, and we express our deepest appreciation for his friendship and service. His presence will be sorely missed and his legacy not soon forgotten.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Karrie Coulter of Marin County, California, for her selection as the Teacher of the Year at the 2016 Golden Bell Awards Ceremony, presented by the Marin County Office of Education in collaboration with the Marin County School Board Association and other local civic organizations. Ms. Coulter has dedicated more than 15 years to educating students in San Rafael City Schools and is currently a 2nd grade teacher at Short Elementary School in San Rafael. A skilled teacher and proven leader, Ms. Coulter helped shape the direction of Short when it reopened in 2012. The school uses the Guided Language Acquisition Design (GLAD) model to serve its students, an innovative approach that Ms. Coulter championed to better serve its multilingual students. Ms. Coulter believes in the potential of each child, and works hard so they can achieve success. She sets a high bar in her classroom, while ensuring students feel respected and heard. Along with responding to individuals' needs in the classroom, she also employs data analysis and evaluates patterns outside of class to better track and promote students' progress. The Golden Bell Awards celebrate public education in Marin County by recognizing outstanding teachers and supportive community partners. Each year, they select an exemplary educator, classified employee, teacher, and trustee for recognition. Mr. Speaker, it is therefore fitting that we honor and thank Karrie Coulter for her contributions to students and public education in Marin County and California.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Andrew ``Andy'' Hyman of Marin County, California, for his selection as the Trustee of the Year at the 2016 Golden Bell Awards Ceremony, presented by the Marin County Office of Education in collaboration with the Marin County School Board Association and other local civic organizations. A member of the Dixie School District Board of Trustees, Mr. Hyman has spent more than a decade advocating for and advising the district and its students. As a member who served two terms as president of the Dixie School Board, Mr. Hyman has devoted thousands of hours on vital committees and efforts. He led a district-wide transportation committee to lower home- to-school transportation costs, and helped initiate green purchasing and recycling policies. Additionally, he led efforts to create the first district-wide anti-bullying policy, and has worked to improve nutrition in school lunches. Mr. Hyman has been a consistent leader in our community across a range of issues affecting our schools. From organizing rallies to working with local legislators, he has been a consistent and effective voice for our students and their opportunities for success. The Golden Bell Awards celebrate public education in Marin County by recognizing outstanding teachers and supportive community partners. Each year, they select an exemplary educator, classified employee, teacher, and trustee for recognition. Mr. Speaker, it is therefore fitting that we honor and thank Andrew ``Andy'' Hyman for his contributions to students and public education in Marin County and California.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Eileen Smith of Marin County, California, for her selection as the Educator of the Year at the 2016 Golden Bell Awards Ceremony, presented by the Marin County Office of Education in collaboration with the Marin County School Board Association and other local civic organizations. Director of a California Math and Science Partnership (CaMSP) project that works with teachers across the county, Ms. Smith has nearly two decades of experience that have greatly benefited the preparedness and success of Marin County's students. Ms. Smith has served in a variety of leadership roles in our community. As principal of Loma Verde Elementary School in the Novato United School District, she was recognized by several awards, including Principal of the Year in 2010 by the Marin County School Administrators' Association. In her current role as director of a CaMSP project, ``Marin's Next Generation Collaborative for Science & Math,'' she has worked with more than six dozen teachers from 8 districts countywide, coordinating and providing intensive, ongoing professional development in math and science. The project is set to expand next year. Throughout her career, Ms. Smith has been known and respected as an effective leader with a gift for educating teachers. She has pushed for increased and improved STEM education at an early age, and has fostered relationships with leading scientific and educational institutions including the Exploratorium, Dominican University, the College of Marin, the University of California, Berkeley, and more. The Golden Bell Awards celebrate public education in Marin County by recognizing outstanding teachers and supportive community partners. Each year, they select an exemplary educator, classified employee, teacher, and trustee for recognition. Mr. Speaker, it is therefore fitting that we honor and thank Eileen Smith for her contributions to students and public education in Marin County and California.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Erin Hurley of Marin County, California, for her selection as the Classified Employee of the Year at the 2016 Golden Bell Awards Ceremony, presented by the Marin County Office of Education in collaboration with the Marin County School Board Association and other local civic organizations. An occupational therapist, Ms. Hurley has dedicated more than two decades to improving the health and welfare of students in Marin County. For the past 15 years, Ms. Hurley has worked at Marindale Early Intervention, where she serves more than 100 students facing a critical time in their development. A student-centered professional, she advocates for appropriate placements and the implementation of strategies specific for each child. She also works to educate staff and parents on body mechanics and ergonomics for themselves and for their students and children. Ms. Hurley works hard to develop relationships with each of the young people she works with. Along with understanding students' specific motor abilities and behavioral and communication goals, she makes an effort to create a comfortable and safe environment where students feel comfortable challenging themselves. The Golden Bell Awards celebrate public education in Marin County by recognizing outstanding teachers and supportive community partners. Each year, they select an exemplary educator, classified employee, teacher, and trustee for recognition. Mr. Speaker, it is therefore fitting that we honor and thank Erin Hurley for her contributions to students and public education in Marin County and California.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Today I rise in opposition to the litany of bad, environmentally harmful bills that the House Republican leadership is offering in place of the bipartisan Senate energy bill. Now, the Senate bill, S. 2012, was sound policy and represented real progress on many important issues, but the package we are considering today is a dangerous threat. Not only is this package bad for drought- stricken States like California, but it includes a wish list of giveaways for the fossil fuel and mining industries, it undermines vital Endangered Species Act protections, and it undermines public review. This is not a promising start to conference negotiations. Why are we wasting our time on a package of partisan bills that we have considered before and which we all know will never be signed into law? Even worse than the substance, Republicans shot down the request to consider this bill under an open amendment process. Now, I, for one, would have recommended many changes if we were allowed to consider this very controversial omnibus bill under regular order. Just to name a few: The House amendment we are considering today continues the unending threats that Congress poses under current management to the health of the bay delta and the vital salmon runs that are so important to California and to my district, not to mention specific threats to the San Joaquin River and to the Klamath and Trinity River systems, their salmon fisheries, and the people that depend upon them; The House amendment we are considering today would bring back from the dead the undeniably harmful Keystone XL pipeline; The House amendment we are considering today would roll back building codes; It would be harmful to forest management policy and wildfire mitigation because it uses a short-sighted model for funding instead of bringing forward the actual fix to the fire borrowing problem, the bipartisan legislation by Representatives Simpson and Schrader that I have supported each of the last several years but we never seem to be able to actually bring to a vote in this House. I urge my colleagues today to vote for the Senate energy bill in its current form, in its original form, which is the result of true, bipartisan compromise, so we can actually get that legislation and all of its useful provisions over the finish line. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Fresno, California (Mr. Costa).

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Stockton, California (Mr. McNerney), who continuously fights for his district's water interests and the interests of California as they pertain to our most important estuary, the bay-delta system.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman from California an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Calling the Valadao water bill bipartisan does not make it genuinely so. Let me just share with my colleagues what Senator Dianne Feinstein has said about this bill. She said it contains ``provisions that would violate environmental law,'' which she cannot support. California Senator Barbara Boxer said the bill is ``the same-old, same-old and will only reignite the water wars.'' The Obama administration opposes this bill. The State of California not only opposes these provisions, but has opposed all previous incarnations of this bill, which has been bouncing around for some time, long before the current drought gave it a new drought-related title. I will just close with what the Fresno Bee has said about this bill. The Fresno Bee says about this bill: ``In some cases, it's an unabashed GOP wish list'' that has ``little, if anything, in common with a 140-page draft water bill floated by Democrats.'' Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui), who has long fought to protect the delta and the interests of her region.