Jared Huffman

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, again, I do not oppose this technical amendment to the bill, but I do want to point out that fixing typos and realphabetizing indexes and other technical changes do not fix the much deeper problems with this bill and do not change the reality that it is not going to become law because it has deep substantive problems that need to be addressed. That is why it is so widely opposed, as it has been in prior years, when essentially the same bill has been run through on party lines. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Fresno, California (Mr. Costa).

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

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

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

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

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

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, I claim time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, I, too, commend the author for his concern about waterfowl and wildlife. This amendment, by itself, is not harmful, but it is important to acknowledge that it doesn't come close to curing the problems with this bill that are, in fact, very harmful to fish and wildlife. The gentleman's amendment seeks to provide cover in some ways to proponents of this bill who are now coming under fire from the California Waterfowl Association and other sportsmen's groups because this bill hurts migratory birds and other wildlife and waterfowl. The California Waterfowl Association is on record opposing this bill because: ``It would eliminate water supplies for California migratory waterfowl and other wetlands-dependent species.'' Other sportsmen's groups also oppose. Trout Unlimited has spoken out against the bill because it would weaken protections for steelhead and salmon. While I do not oppose this bill, it is important not to suggest that this bill is somehow good for or supported by hunters or sportsmen's groups. It is not. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Fresno, California (Mr. Costa).

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

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

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

Mr. HUFFMAN. We could start working together on the Klamath restoration settlement and, moving forward, that legislation. I hope that we can begin to talk together. We have legitimate interests on both sides of the State border and at both ends of this important watershed.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Donna Chambers, executive director of the Humboldt County Resource Conservation District, on her retirement. Donna's service to Humboldt County and her efforts on behalf of the Salt River Ecosystem Restoration Project have been exemplary. Since she began working with the Resource Conservation District, Donna has overseen vital agreements, funding and permitting, and construction of one of the most significant estuary restoration and agricultural improvement projects in California. Located at the mouth of the Eel River, the Salt River project is crucial to salmon and steelhead, wildlife, and agricultural production. After graduating from Humboldt State University in 1996 with a bachelor's degree in social work and a minor in business management, Donna worked for the Humboldt Access Project, the Humboldt Community Access and Resource Center, and the Area 1 Agency on Aging. When she joined the Resource Conservation District in 2008, Donna became known as a champion for agricultural producers. Donna helped develop nutrient management plans, projects to handle dairy waste, and helped producers upgrade facilities like roof and gutter structures and concrete slabs and ramps to improve efficiency and protect water quality. She also helped dairy and beef ranchers reduce the impacts of Aleutian cackling geese on private lands. Donna helped bring more than $20 million in funding to the Resource Conservation District and the local community since she began working with the district. Mr. Speaker, Donna Chamber's commitment to agriculture and environmental protection 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 rise today in recognition of Sergeant James R. Stephenson as he prepares to retire from the Petaluma Police Department on July 31, 2015. With over twenty-five years of exemplary service as a police officer, twenty-one of these have been with the City of Petaluma where Sergeant Stephenson has been instrumental in building positive relationships with local residents and ensuring the overall safety of the Petaluma community. Sergeant Stephenson joined the Petaluma Police Department on August 9, 1994 and quickly distinguished himself as an outstanding street officer, often detecting criminal activity from subtle clues. In 1999, he was named as the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in recognition of his exceptional work. One noteworthy example was Sergeant Stephenson's skillful arrest of an armed, drug induced and mentally unstable man. Rather than resorting to stronger measures, he physically restrained the man, ultimately protecting both the individual and the broader community from more serious consequences after an arsenal of firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition were discovered in the citizen's home. Throughout his career, there have been many other instances when Sergeant Stephenson's calm demeanor and sharp instincts have helped to prevent crime. In his most recent assignment as Supervisor of the Traffic Safety Unit, his leadership has been important in helping officers to develop efficient action plans for responding to and investigating many serious accidents. Sergeant Stephenson's legacy is one of dedicated service to the people of Petaluma. Please join me in congratulating Sergeant James Stephenson and expressing deep appreciation for his long and exceptional career and outstanding contributions to the City of Petaluma.

Mr. HUFFMAN

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of James Forni of Petaluma, who passed away on June 28, 2015 at the age of 36. A beloved husband, basketball coach, and friend to all, Mr. Forni has left us at too young an age. If there's any comfort to be found in the pain his family, students, and colleagues are feeling, perhaps it's the knowledge that James' legacy of kindness and compassion will remain with us indefinitely. Some people are respected. Some people are loved. James Forni was both. A Petaluma native and local icon, Mr. Forni every day lived the values he instilled in his students, his friends, and his family: resilience, integrity, and strength. He was the soul at the very center of Casa Grande High School. Not only did he coach football and basketball as well as teach physical education for over a decade, he played multiple sports as a member of the 1998 graduating class before continuing on to play football at College of Marin, University of Oregon, and University of Redlands. Many people would retreat when faced with a fight. Eight years ago Mr. Forni was diagnosed with melanoma, but he didn't back down. Even when his energy lagged and his muscles ached, he was there for his team. He attended basketball games and practices throughout his treatment. He battled the disease for nearly a decade and coached through the end, guiding his team until this season's conclusion. James Forni lived for others. He left a permanent mark on his school and community for which, years from now, we will continue to be grateful. It is therefore appropriate that we pay tribute to him today and express our heartfelt condolences to his wife Mary, his parents Jim and Jan, and his siblings Jill and Chris.

Mr. HUFFMAN

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

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chair, you should have the proper amendment now. Amendment Offered by Mr. Huffman

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

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chair, that is not the revised amendment at the desk.

Mr. HUFFMAN. If it can be substituted with the proper amendment, yes.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, I support this amendment which will ensure that no funds are spent on activities that are not in compliance with the President's executive order on greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency and the 2013 executive order on climate change adaptation. These orders require agencies to simply take global warming into account when making decisions. This will save taxpayers lots of money while making our communities safer and cleaner. Fighting climate change has to be regarded as the biggest imperative of our time. My State of California has stepped up to this issue and taken important bold steps to confront it, including passing Assembly Bill 32, the world's most aggressive greenhouse gas reduction policy. At the Federal level, President Obama's efforts, through these orders, are critical steps toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing climate change. Ensuring compliance with these measures is the least we can do on this critical issue; and, frankly, we should be doing much more. So I urge my colleagues to support the gentleman from Virginia's (Mr. Beyer) amendment and continue this effort to combat climate change.

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully request an ``aye'' vote. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HUFFMAN. I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).

Mr. HUFFMAN

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

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I appreciate very much the bipartisan support and passage of my earlier amendment, which would end the practice of concessionaires in our national parks selling Confederate flags and memorabilia of the Confederacy. We now, with this Interior Appropriations bill, have a second opportunity to speak on this very important national debate that we are having regarding symbols of the Confederacy. This additional amendment will end the practice of allowing groups to display Confederate flags on federally managed cemeteries. The American Civil War was fought, in Abraham Lincoln's words, to ``save the last best hope of Earth.'' We can honor that history without celebrating the Confederate flag and all of the dreadful things that it symbolizes. I request an ``aye'' of my colleagues, and I yield back the balance of my time.