Jerry Lewis

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the order of the House of today and as designee of the majority leader, I call up the resolution (H. Res. 664) mourning the passing of President Ronald Reagan and celebrating his service to the people of the United States and his leadership in promoting the cause of freedom for all the people of the world, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor to yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher), who served Ronald Reagan as a part of his staff before coming to Congress.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly).

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Ronald Reagan became President in 1981 after an election in 1980. At that point in our history, our defenses had been reduced to such significant levels, all of us were concerned about the future of America's ability to defend itself. Indeed, there were great leaders who recognized the importance of building our defenses. Among those who have come here since President Reagan was with us is the gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham). Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham).

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, the eloquence of our colleagues from both sides of the aisle reflect the best of Ronald Reagan. His leadership indeed recognized that there was little partisanship when you were really working towards solving problems for America's people. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Herger).

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, today it is my pleasure to recognize Sherri and Robert Vines for more than 30 years of community service in San Bernardino County, California. The Vines, who are being honored with the Norman F. Feldheym Award from Congregation Emanu El in our community, exemplify the volunteerism that is the backbone our American communities. Currently the President of the United Jewish Welfare Fund of San Bernardino County, Robert Vines has been serving his Congregation and his community for 30 years. Robert has been a respected member of the California State Bar since 1973 and served as the Deputy District Attorney for the County of San Bernardino from 1973-1975. As a member of Congregation Emanu El, Robert has served in a number of important positions, including Financial Secretary of the entire Congregation. His wife Sherri has served Congregation Emanu El in many capacities, including teaching at the School of Jewish Living, chairing the Community Sedar and three terms as Sisterhood President. Mr. Speaker, together they have been leading members of their community serving as officers in the Arrowhead United Way, as host family for the Western Regional Little League Tournament, and as coaches in the local Little League and AYSO. They have contributed their skills and resources to programs of Congregation Emanu El, including sponsoring temple events and serving as a host family for NFTY Conclave. Sherri and Robert Vines will receive the Rabbi Norman F. Feldheym Award on June 12, 2004 on the 113th anniversary of the founding of their Congregation. They are certainly deserving of the award, which pays tribute to members who most closely resemble the Rabbi Feldheyin's qualities of love and loyalty to the synagogue, service to the community, and personal traits of humility, kindness, care and love. Please join me, Mr. Speaker, in recognizing Sherri and Robert for their outstanding service to their community.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to pay tribute to Nina Coake of San Bernardino County, California, who has been mother to 1,152 children over the past 50 years, and helped create one of the most successful foster parent systems in the Nation along the way. Nina and Vernon Coake took in their first two foster children in 1943, and then in 1945 built a 10-room home to provide care to many more abused, neglected and drug-addicted children. She cared for as many as six at a time constantly until she retired at age 81. Foster parents are special people, Mr. Speaker. The Coakes told the county's Child Protective Services that they would take in children at any hour of the day, any day of the week. They understood that watching over these troubled children requires constant vigilance and love. Many have been abandoned, molested or physically abused, and it takes an exceptional person to find a way to make these young people understand that someone cares for them. The Coakes opened the first shelter care home in 1976, and their work ultimately allowed the county to close its dependency lock-up section at juvenile hall. In 1996, Nina Coake began caring for medically fragile infants and small children, taking in severely drug-exposed and abused infants and seeing them through drug withdrawal episodes and healing broken bones. Nina Coake has been a leader in foster parent groups, serving as president of the San Bernardino County Foster Parent Association for 10 years, and in a variety of statewide roles, ultimately becoming president of the California State Foster Parent Association for four years. She was a leader in convincing the county to require 20 hours of foster parent training--more than twice the State-mandated 8 hours. She has presented numerous workshops at local colleges, as well as 25 statewide training conferences--including chairman of three statewide meetings. Two years ago, she was the primary foster parent representative in a statewide group that helped redesign the California Child Welfare System. Mr. Speaker, Nina Coake was named Loma Linda University Medical Center's Hometown Hero in 2001, and on May 18 this year will be celebrate at a county luncheon in her honor. Please join me in thanking her for all her years of loving dedication to the children most at need in our society, and wish her well in her future endeavors.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure today to pay tribute to a dear friend, Margaret Stewart of Upland, California, who has spent more than 50 years improving the lives of everyone around her as a selfless volunteer and inspirational community activist in San Bernardino County. Born and raised in Ontario, CA, Margaret married citrus rancher Walter E. Stewart, and raised three daughters in and near their hometown. She began her civic volunteering in 1949 with the Upland Junior Welfare League, and has been seemingly working harder ever year since that time. Maggie Stewart got her start in local politics in 1950, when she and Walt chartered the Chaffey District Young Republicans. That same year, they helped organize a sewer bond election, and two years later she helped organize a door-to-door campaign for a school bond election. Since that time, she has served as a campaign worker every 2 years for candidates for mayor, Assembly, Congress, governor and president. Her stature within our local Republican Party has grown to such an extent that she is often identified as the driving force in keeping the party growing and strong. She has been a member of the California State central committee since 1980 and served twice as the chairman of the county Republican Party. She has been president of the local Republican Women and has served as a Regent for the National Federation of Republican Women. And she was a delegate to three Republican National Conventions. Maggie has also spent nearly 50 years working with the Girl Scouts, representing U.S. Scouts in New Zealand, serving as Girl Scout Council president serving 26,000 Scouts, and organizing a national conference to help scouts learn public relations. She has been almost as active in the Parent-Teacher Association, serving as local president and in many other roles. The West End United Way presented Maggie with its leadership award for more than two decades of service in a variety of top positions. Mr. Speaker, as you can imagine, Maggie Stewart's awards and public recognition are numerous and substantial. She has been Scout of the Year, Woman of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year, and a Woman Achiever. She received many justly deserved awards in 1983 for co- chairing the year-and-a-half-long Centennial Celebration for the City of Ontario. For her latest tribute, she will be honored for 30 years of service to the San Antonio Community Hospital Auxiliary. There is little doubt, Mr. Speaker, that Maggie Stewart is the epitome of social service and volunteer activism. She has registered thousands of new voters, contributed many thousands of hours of time, and helped create a real spirit of community in one of the fastest- growing areas of our nation. Please join me in saluting Maggie Stewart for her years of service, and wishing her well in all of her future endeavors.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the attention of the House by way of the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) and I joining together to make an announcement regarding our colleagues. I get the side of it that is less than totally positive, while my colleague will take the other side. I am here to announce to the House, or bring to their attention, the passing of former colleague Alphonzo Bell, Jr., who this last Sunday passed away at the age of 89. Congressman Bell was known while he was in the House by Members of the House as a guy who covered the whole gamut. Some called him a liberal, some called him a moderate, some called him a conservative. He reflects the mix that we have here today. A fabulous Member of the House who passed away at a wonderful, ripe age. Mr. Speaker, let me yield to my colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox).

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like today to congratulate Maurice Calderon of Redlands, whose efforts to ensure that all communities in San Bernardino County have access to financial services has been recognized by the Foreign Ministry of Mexico, which presented him with the Ohtli Award for public service. I have counted Maurice Calderon as a friend for more than 30 years, and I have been proud to work with him on many projects to improve our communities in San Bernardino County. Maurice was born and raised in Banning, California, and served as a school board member there for nine years, followed by another nine as a community college trustee. He is currently the Senior Vice President of Governmental Affairs and Community Development at Arrowhead Credit Union in San Bernardino, California. In that position, Maurice has been an advocate for providing financial services to the large and growing Hispanic community, many of them immigrants from Mexico. He was instrumental in convincing the credit union to open a new branch in the San Bernardino minority community after all other banks had closed their outlets there. Maurice is truly a community activist, serving as a member of both the Inland Empire Hispanic and African American Chambers of Commerce. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of both the University of California Foundation, and the San Bernardino Valley College Foundation. Maurice is also a Director for the Inland Empire Economic Partnership, and President of Sinfonia Mexicana. His service has been recognized by many honors: ``Father of the Year'' from the City of Banning, ``Citizen of the Year'' from the City of Beaumont, ``Hispanic of the Year,'' and ``Influential Latino of the Year'' in 1998 by the Inland Empire Hispanic Chamber and Hispanic Lifestyle Magazine, respectively. Maurice was the inaugural recipient of the California Credit Union League Diversity Award, and was named to the Southern California Native American and Latino Hall of Fame. Most recently, Maurice Calderon has been recognized for his public service to the Mexican immigrant community by the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which awarded him the Reconocimiento Ohtli Medal. It honors those individuals who are role models for society, and have contributed successfully toward building relations with the Mexican community living outside of the country. Mr. Speaker, a big reason for Maurice Calderon's dedication to his community is the support he receives from Dorothy, his wife of more than 40 years, and his two children and four grandchildren. Please join me in congratulating the entire Calderon family for this honor, and thanking him for all the years of public service he has given the people of San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like today to pay tribute to Emil Marzullo, who is retiring as Director of the Special Districts Department for the County of San Bernardino, California, after 25 years of dedicated service to the people of California's Inland Empire. The County of San Bernardino Special Districts Department manages dozens of local entities charged with providing a variety of vital public services ranging from fire protection and drinking water to parks and roadways. Mr. Marzullo took the helm of Special Districts in 1994 during very difficult economic times, when funding for these important services were increasingly scarce. Under his expert leadership the Department took on the responsibility of the County Franchise Authority and the restructuring of all water and sanitation districts and operations. These visionary reforms would come to be Mr. Marzullo's greatest accomplishments. Mr. Marzullo was born in New Jersey and moved to California in 1965. He graduated from San Bernardino High School in 1971, received his B.A. in Geography and Environmental Studies from the University of California at Riverside in 1978, and a M.S. in Environmental Studies and Public Administration from California State University, Fullerton, in 1986. He began his county employment in January 1979 as an Environmental Specialist. As an employee and later deputy director of the County Office of Community Development, Mr. Marzullo participated in or led the creation of more than 200 capital projects such as senior and community centers, playgrounds and parks, as well as water systems and fire safety facilities. Serving as assistant director of special districts, he was instrumental in restructuring the Special Districts Department as well as the San Bernardino County Fire Department. In this capacity he trained the Board-governed commissions in the conduct of public meetings under the California Open Meetings Law and authored many of the related policies and board actions. An esteemed member of the community, Mr. Marzullo served as a visiting professor at the Graduate School of Public Administration at California State University, San Bernardino, where he has lectured and led graduate seminars in Land Use Planning, Public Policy Analysis and Economic Development, and Local Development Finance. He also became a member of the Board of Directors and later the President of the Board for the Bethlehem House, a shelter and program for victims of domestic violence. Mr. Speaker, for more than two decades, Emil Marzullo has served the people of San Bernardino County well in a variety of important capacities, and the county will benefit from his accomplishments for many generations to come. Please join me in thanking him for his dedicated public service, and wishing him well as he takes a well- deserved retirement.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like today to extend congratulations to Marvin and Lugene Solomon of Southern California, who are celebrating their 50th year of marriage in a relationship that blends artistic talents with creative business acumen. Although Lugene is a native of Oklahoma, the Solomons have lived a California dream since they met while attending the University of California. At the time, Lugene was juggling her studies with a starring role as Babs Riley in the television show ``The Life of Riley.'' Fifty years after they were married, Marvin and Lugene are still at work. Lugene now applies her artistic talents through a successful cloisonne pin and embroidered patch company, C. Sanders Emblems, which provides logos and uniform patches for groups and companies across America. Marvin's first company, Nuclear Supplies, was started in 1963 specializing in nuclear radiation detection equipment and was later absorbed by his test and measurement instrumentation company Soltec Corporation, based in Los Angeles. Marvin, the CEO and founder of Soltec, leads a team of scientists and engineers with a world-class reputation for designing integrated engineering solutions to modern day challenges in both the public and private sectors. The company's hand- held radiation detection equipment has saved lives and protected the health of many people in both government and industry. The Solomons have lived in San Marino, California, for the past 30 years, where they raised their two daughters, Jennifer Solomon and Kimberly Fortier. They are also the proud grandparents of three grandchildren. Lugene loves foreign languages and keeps current as a bi-lingual speaker of French in their travels abroad and in spending time at their apartment in Paris. She is also active in theatre and opera groups. Mr. Speaker, Marvin and Lugene Solomon have forged successful independent careers even as they have shared their lives for the past 50 years. I ask that you and my colleagues join me in congratulating them on their perseverance, and wishing them well in their future endeavors.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like today to pay tribute to Ken A. Miller, a true pioneer in the field of public works and flood control. Mr. Miller is retiring as Director of the San Bernardino County Department of Public Works after 33 years of outstanding service to the citizens of San Bernardino County, California, the last 16 as director of the department. The crowning achievement of Mr. Miller's distinguished career is the Santa Ana River Mainstem Project, a $1 billion project that has also been one of my top priorities for nearly two decades. Completion of the Seven Oaks Dam, the Prado Dam and Reservoir, the Mill Creek Levee and San Timoteo Creek flood control projects will protect millions of lives and billions of dollars worth of property in Southern California. Mr. Miller was the key driver for this project in San Bernardino County during most of his 33 years of public service. Mr. Miller lent his skills and talent to a partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a range of flood control projects that have made San Bernardino County a much safer place, even as the county grew from a quiet suburb to an urban area of nearly 2 million residents. While protecting San Bernardino County and other Southern California communities from the danger of severe flooding, Mr. Miller was a leading force behind the modernization and safety advancements of transportation routes, from remote desert highways to busy urban Interstates. Ken Miller has been a Registered Civil Engineer in the State of California since 1973. He joined the San Bernardino County Flood Control District in 1971, following his graduation with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Cal Poly Pomona. Ken A. Miller has served as President of the County's Management Forum and as president of the City and County Engineers Association at the county and state level. In one of his final assignments for the County of San Bernardino, Mr. Miller served as Acting County Administrative Officer, overseeing the county's workforce of more than 16,000. Mr. Miller is a native Californian, born in Sanger and a resident of the San Bernardino area since 1951. Mr. Miller and his wife Sandy reside in Yucaipa, California. They have two daughters, Dana and Jennifer, who are currently attending college. Under Mr. Miller's leadership, the Flood Control District was awarded the 1999-2000 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) ``Outstanding Government Civil Engineering Project'' for the Seven Oaks Dam Project and also was awarded the American Public Works Association (APWA) ``2000 Project of the Year Award.'' Mr. Speaker, Ken A. Miller leaves an impressive legacy of public service and accomplishment. The transportation and flood control projects he made possible will stand for generations as monuments to a career dedicated to the safety and advancement of Southern California. Please join me in thanking him for his public service, and wishing him well in his retirement.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the contributions of California's 400-plus adult schools and to commemorate Adult Education Week, which is celebrated from March 15, 2004 through March 19, 2004. Adult education institutions provide many services. Adult schools provide for the unique needs of individuals from a diverse population. New parents can enroll in prebirth classes through a wide spectrum of parent education courses. Senior citizens and the disabled can participate in programs designed toward their special needs. Adults can complete their high school studies in their own time and at their own pace. Those seeking career changes or enhancements can enroll in the many vocational skills and job training programs. Additionally, adult schools are a primary community resource for the teaching and instruction of adult literacy. Adult schools provide a wide range of English as a second language and citizenship services for new arrivals to the United States. Marry persons eligible for citizenship often turn to paid consultants for assistance with the process of becoming a U.S. citizen. It is unfortunate that many who seek U.S. citizenship are unaware that most of California's adult schools offer free citizenship classes and citizenship consultation. The 41st District of California is home to a number of fine adult schools each offering programs designed to suit the diverse needs of southern California. Redlands Adult Schools utilizes the latest technology and offers over 600 online courses ranging from money management to job readiness. Alpine Adult School in Lake Arrowhead has helped many obtain their GED through their weekly prep classes. San Bernardino's Adult Schools have helped students research their heritage through genealogy classes and nurtured creativity through their many applied arts classes. Adult schools are an important and essential part of our communities. Their positive impact and contributions cannot be overstated.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, due to personal business, I was unavoidably detained during rollcall votes 55 and 56 on March 11, 2004. Had I been present for rollcall 55 on H.R. 3717, the ``Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2004,'' I would have voted ``yea.'' Had I been present for rollcall 56, H. Con. Res. 15, ``Commending India on its celebration of Republic Day,'' I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like today to pay tribute to Raymond B. Wingerd, who is retiring after 36 years of public service in the San Bernardino County Probation Department, helping those who have paid their debt to society return to a normal life. Just months after his graduation from Upland College, Raymond Wingerd joined the county probation department as a Probation Officer I, and with the exception of an 18-month stint as a teacher in Zimbabwe, has been with the department ever since. Showing promise as a manager of others, Wingerd moved up to a supervising probation officer in 1972, and 5 years later to assistant director of the juvenile division, managing the intake, investigations and transportation sections. He was named a year later as Director of Special Services, overseeing the department's community resources, training, victim advocacy and work sentencing programs. One year after that he became director of the department's Verdemont Boys Ranch, a long-term program that focused on family counseling to help troubled youths turn their lives around. In 1982, Wingerd was promoted to be the Division Director in charge of Juvenile Hall, three residential treatment institutions, clinical services and food services for 400 delinquent youth. By this time, he was managing 300 employees and handling an $11.7 million budget. He became the Central Services Division Director in 1988, overseeing adult and juvenile court investigations and field supervision of 4,000 offenders. Raymond Wingerd was named Chief Probation Officer for the county in 1994, overseeing a staff of 1,200 and a $98 million annual budget, and has served in that position until his retirement. During his tenure, Chief Wingerd has led the planning and construction of new juvenile facilities in the county's West Valley and the High Desert-- decentralizing and modernizing the department's approach to juvenile detention. During his years in top management in the department, Chief Wingerd has helped create a series of youthful offender programs that have seen many innovative programs put in place in San Bernardino County. The department partners with county schools and the U.S. Forest Service to provide a 90-day intensive outdoor work program as an early intervention resource. The Youth Justice Center brings together schools, probation, public, and mental health and community-based organizations to provide a day-reporting program for youths on probation--a model used by the state legislature to create a statewide program. There are now 12 Youth Accountability Boards made up of citizens who help make dispositional decisions for first-time offenders. The National Association of Counties gave national recognition to two projects created by Wingerd in the 1980s: A Regional Youth Education Facility with 40 beds, and a wilderness diversion program designed to keep troubled youth out of the justice system. Throughout his career, Chief Wingerd has been active in probation officer groups, serving as president of the Chief Probation Offices of California in 1998 and 1999, and most recently as a Probation Committee Member of the American Correctional Association. He is a board member of Everest College and San Bernardino Communities Against Drugs. Mr. Speaker, the dedication of Chief Raymond Wingerd continues to this day, as he has agreed to continue his service as interim chief until a new head of the department can be recruited. Please join me in thanking him for his many years of public service and wishing he and his wife Linda well in their future endeavors.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like today to congratulate Jim Waltze, the CEO of construction industry leader Griffith Company, on being selected as president of the Associated General Contractors of America. Mr. Waltze is a visionary leader in an industry that is one of the pillars of our economy. Jim Waltze started in contracting at the age of 21, and in 1973 at age 28 he joined the Griffith Company, one of the top major construction firms in Southern California. His career at Griffith has been marked by regular promotions--to Chief Estimator in 1975, vice president/district manager in 1977 and executive vice president in 1986. He was named president of the company in 1992, and added the titles of chief executive officer and board chairman in 1997. Under his leadership, Griffith Company has taken on some of the largest port projects in Southern California, including the $37 million Seaside Project for the Port of Los Angeles and the $71 million Pier T Project for the Port of Long Beach. He has been the driving force for innovation at the company, setting up a company wide strategic planning process and the development of divisions for specialty structures, underground projects and materials. The company has been a pioneer in computerized estimating and project management systems. The contributions of Jim Waltze go beyond the success of his company, however. He has been involved for most of his career in organizations that promote the economic health and high standards of the contracting industry. He has been a board member of the Associated General Contractors of California for two decades, and was elected to the National Board of Directors for the Associated General Contractors of America in 1987. The positions Jim Waltze has taken on with the AGC range from the Chairman of the Highway Division in 1995 to an active involvement in the group's Young Constructors Forum for students coming into the profession. He served from 1999-2001 as co-chairman of the National Quality Initiative, established by the Federal Highway Administration to ensure that the construction and maintenance of our interstates and national highways meets the highest possible standards. He has been an active member of the Transportation Information Program and Transportation California, groups that strive to ensure adequate resources are available for our state and federal highway systems. Jim Waltze has served for the past two years as vice president and senior vice president for Associated General Contractors of America, and he will be installed on March 12 as the chairman of the national group. The contractors of California are proud to be represented by one of their own this year. Mr. Speaker, the general contractors of America build our highways and airports, ports and dams, our military installations, government buildings and skyscrapers. Their dedication to excellence has helped our nation be the world's leader in quality construction, indeed in our quality of life. Visionary leaders like Jim Waltze continue to push the drive for excellence and innovation that will keep America the world leader into the future. Please join me in congratulating him and wishing him well as he takes the reins of the Associated General Contractors of America.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like today to recognize Warm Springs Elementary School, the first permanent school in San Bernardino, California, which is celebrating its 150th year of providing education to the children of ranchers, railroad workers, Air Force personnel and immigrants. In 1854, ranchers near the small Mormon town of San Bernardino decided seven miles was too far for their children to walk to school. They got together and built an adobe east of downtown, and named it after the nearby Warm Creek. As a one-room school, it provided an education for about 25 children of all ages. This was just four years after California gained statehood, and the same year as the City of San Bernardino was incorporated as the county seat. Over the next 10 years, the school grew slowly as many of the Mormon settlers returned to Utah. Gold was discovered in the San Bernardino Mountains--bringing thousands of fortune-seekers but few families. The school building was nearly destroyed by an earthquake and a flood, so the adobe was replaced with a log cabin on the same site facing Sterling Avenue. The students were grouped by reading ability rather than age, and boys and girls sat on opposite sides of the room. The log-cabin school was destroyed by fire in 1974, and a clapboard building replaced it--with an auditorium added in 1887. That school also later burned to the ground and was replaced. By the 1890s, the railroads had come to San Bernardino and the area was booming. The Santa Fe Railway built a huge repair yard near downtown, and the population grew rapidly. In 1898, Warm Creek School grew to four rooms and had as many as 100 students. That school was torn down in 1926 and replaced with a Spanish-style tile-roofed building that remains the school's core. Students at Warm Springs School became close witnesses to America's war efforts in the 1940s. The San Bernardino Municipal Airport, just seven blocks south, became the San Bernardino Army Airfield, repairing and servicing hundreds of transport planes moving troops around the country. The airfield became Norton Air Force Base in 1950, and for the next 38 years was one of the most active Air Force fields in the West. Children of the base's civilian repair workers swelled the ranks of students at the school, which added nine classrooms in 1945 and two more in 1947. By 1954, the city of San Bernardino had grown far beyond the former outpost school, and it was absorbed into the city's unified school district, becoming Warm Springs Elementary School. It continued to grow to 32 classrooms, and today 45 teachers serve 1,000 students in year- round classes, making it one of the largest elementary schools in the district. The student population today is nearly 60 percent Latino, many of them the children of recent immigrants. Mr. Speaker, Warm Springs Elementary has provided a free education-- the foundation of our American success--to thousands of children over the past 150 years. I would be proud to be associated with this school for that fact alone, but I have a special reason to be fond of Warm Springs. It is the alma mater of the Walker girls of San Bernardino-- Mary, Darlene, and her twin sister Arlene, who happens to be my bride. Arlene and I will be returning to her old school on March 9 to celebrate the sesquicentennial, and encourage the current students to take advantage of the opportunities their education can provide. I have always believed, Mr. Speaker, that our education system is a success because of local schools run by wonderful teachers, supported by great principals. Warm Springs Elementary continues the tradition of excellence under Principal Arlan Anderson that it has carried on for the past 150 years. Please join me in congratulating those educators on their continued dedication, and wish their current students well for the future.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I want to pay tribute today to a dedicated public servant who for the past 30 years has devoted his life to protecting southern Californians from the danger of wildfires. I can say sincerely that many of my constituents owe their lives and homes to the hard work and leadership of Thomas O'Keefe, who is retiring as chief of the San Bernardino Unit of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Tom O'Keefe began his career in public service in 1968 as a member of the United States Coast Guard, where he served aboard the Ice breaker Storis in Alaska. After his 4 years in the Coast Guard, chief O'Keefe began his work for CDF on October 1, 1974 as a Fire Control Assistant in the Orange Ranger Unit. In 3 years, he was promoted to a Fire Apparatus Engineer and was assigned to the El Cerrito Forest Fire Station (FFS) in the Riverside Ranger Unit. He moved up to Fire Captain in August of 1981 and was assigned to Indian Wells and later to a Training Fire Captain position in the Riverside Ranger Unit Headquarters. In April of 1986, Tom O'Keefe became Battalion Chief in the Riverside Training Section and three years later was made a field Battalion Chief in San Jacinto. Moving up quickly in the ranks, he was named a Division Chief in 1989, in charge of the Staff Services Division and later headed the Emergency Services Division for Riverside County. In October 1996, he was promoted to Deputy Chief of the Riverside Ranger Unit and was finally named Chief of the San Bernardino Ranger Unit in July 1999. Mr. Speaker, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is our statewide firefighting agency, and Chief O'Keefe has played an active role in many historic events, ranging from the Los Angeles riots to the Northridge earthquake. The agency is also charged with forestry management and fire prevention, and I am most grateful for Chief O'Keefe's efforts to deal with the terrible tree dieoff in the San Bernardino mountains. On October 21, 2003 wildfires erupted throughout southern California. These fires were some of the most costly and devastating wildfires in the State's history. Two of these fires were located in San Bernardino County, and the Old Fire in my district destroyed more than 1,000 homes. Chief O'Keefe led the CDF in playing a central role as firefighters evacuated tens of thousands of residents, saved thousands of structures and protected and held the fire back from destroying the entire forest. Chief O'Keefe had already been selected to receive the Director's Leadership Award, but the recognition was especially deserved in light of his leadership and professionalism in the fires of 2003. Thanks greatly to the efforts of Chief O'Keefe and the CDF, most of our mountain residents were able to return home after the fires. They have expressed their gratitude in many ways, and I thank him personally as we wish him well on his retirement. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in saluting this public servant, and sending him and his wife Nancy our best wishes.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New Mexico, who has put together this time, and the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce), Joe's colleague and friend from their own district in beautiful downtown New Mexico. It is a sad moment for me to come and attempt in a few moments to share with the family and friends of Joe the impact he has had on my life, the Congress of the United States, and, indeed, upon, I think, people way beyond his wonderful State. Joe was a giant, great man who cared so much for the work of public affairs that it took every bit of his being to impact those issues that were so important to his people; a phenomenal guy who I came to know early upon his career by way of introduction from a mutual friend, Kevin Billings, who said, ``Jerry, you have got to meet this guy, because he is a guy who ought to be on your Committee on Appropriations,'' a committee that I love. From that moment on, as Joe and I began to get to know each other, many of us worked to see that he early on took a spot on that committee. During his service there, as has been said, both first as a member, but, beyond that, as chairman of the subcommittee that deals with agriculture, so important to his State, the Subcommittee on Interior, Joe demonstrated his unusual capability to mix the demands and needs of his own people with those requirements of members of his subcommittee, as well as the needs and priorities of the country. He is going to be sorely missed by his wife, Mary, and his son and daughter. I want them to know that he will be missed just as much, every bit as much, by the people who work in this House. Shortly after I met Joe, I became enamored of his sense of humor. While we all know of him as a great man, we also know of his immense capability. When you would have a tendency to take yourself perhaps a bit too seriously, by a kind of twist of a word, a sleight of hand almost, his sense of humor would bring you back to the real world, where we can find solution by way of compromise in this House, for, no doubt about it, when we finally get our best work done, it is work that is done with men and women challenging each other, measuring the pros and cons that lead to solution, and compromise is absolutely a requirement. I remember when Joe first came to me, we were talking about a couple of his problems and discussing the fact that when he was first involved in politics, there were not too many Republicans available in his territory in New Mexico. He kind of smiled when he told me they held their meetings in a telephone booth. In the old days in San Bernardino County in California, many a person suggested to me that if I really wanted to be in politics, I had better find a party other than the Republican Party, for similarly we had a telephone booth that did not have very much room in it. Joe demonstrated clearly that he was going to make a difference in his State and his party in his State. It has been suggested by Steve and others that he ran those very, very close races and almost became Governor of the State of New Mexico. Well, what guy is good enough to go about getting elected to the United States Congress by way of write- in vote? To say the least, it is tough enough to get elected, but to have enough people care about you and know of your leadership skills to actually drive hard enough to get people to write your name in to be successful in races that are so intensely sought after? Joe reminds me in many, many ways of his sense of humor by the dealings we had on another venture. We used to kid each other about Mexican food, because, you know, frankly I think those people, citizens of Mexican descent in our country, who are of the best lines come from beautiful downtown California, and he thought in turn that our food could not begin to compare in terms of Mexican food with that of New Mexico. So we challenged each other about that, first lightly, and he talked about his tamales early on and I was talking about enchiladas and tacos, et cetera. I just could not believe the tacos they produced in Washington, DC. But in this challenge, we began to invite friends, first it was just our two staffs together, and then we would get people down the hall, and the program became a regular annual event called ``Tamales on the Terrace.'' The family of Joe Skeen goes beyond just the family we have mentioned here. The family also involves Selma Sierra, who was the person who was in charge of helping us put together Tamales on the Terrace. The terrace, by the way, is just outside the back door of my office, and it looks at the Capitol and a couple of other buildings. The last time we held this gathering, we had to turn people away. There were 300 or 400 people there the last 2 or 3 years. The last event was a very, very special event indeed, because we were especially attempting to pay tribute to Joe Skeen as he was getting prepared to leave the Congress. Suzanne Eisold, his administrative assistant, was a person who my wife, who helps me run my own office, has worked very closely with, for she helped put wheels on both of our operations. To be successful in this business you need help; and, without any doubt, he had that extra special quality of attracting the best of people around him to make sure that the best of work was done on behalf of his own people and the causes he was concerned with. It has been said that appropriators are the people around here who must get their work done, because, without it, government cannot continue; and often times controversy stops many a bill around here. Well, Joe was one of those workhorses who was able to get the toughest of business done in the appropriations process. His bills went to the President's desk and successfully had a huge impact upon the future of America's public lands by way of interior, and certainly had a fantastic impact upon prioritizing the way our appropriation dollars impact farmers, not just in New Mexico, but also in the country. There is a great building in Sacramento that reminds me of the last trip I took to New Mexico to be with Joe. This great Federal building in Sacramento has on the face of it a statement to be remembered by those who think about Joe forever. It says, ``Bring me men to match my mountains.'' That last trip that took me to Joe's hometown was for the dedication of a Federal building there, and I would hope that the people of New Mexico, whenever they go and look at that Federal building or have business there, will remember just how great this man was. If we, indeed, have had a Will Rogers of modern days, Joe Skeen of New Mexico is that Will Rogers; and indeed he is the mountain of a man who has come from New Mexico.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. While I am doing so, I want to express my deep appreciation to the leadership on both sides of the aisle who have gone about the compromises necessary to bring this bill to the floor in the first place. It is important to know that we have been mismanaging our forests for all too long now; and if there is a need for a demonstration project relative to that, all one has to do is look at the recent devastating fires in Southern California. My territory is directly impacted. We have lost thousands and thousands of homes. We have lost dozens of lives as a direct result of mismanagement of our forests. And as of this moment, the most pristine areas of Southern California are in jeopardy of total loss because of mismanagement by this body and by the Federal Government of their forestlands. This bill is a good step in the right direction. It is going to cost some money, but not nearly the billions and billions of losses that we have already suffered in Southern California.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I very much appreciate the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon), my colleague, for yielding me this time. And it is a very proud moment for me to rise on behalf of literally thousands of UCLA alumni who are proud, and in just a small way, a small way, not just to be associated with this great university but to be associated with the name of John Wooden who has been our great basketball coach all of the time I have looked at UCLA, but will remain our preeminent basketball coach for all time. I must say it is very appropriate that we do this today, in view of the fact that on December 20, the basketball floor at Pauley Pavilion will be dedicated the Nell and John Wooden Court. The Edwin W. Pauley Pavilion sits right across the way from the John Wooden Center on the UCLA campus. The Pauley's donors are listed across the bottom of a plaque outside the building. Fifth from those on the bottom, of those supporters, is John Wooden himself. This incredible individual, whose background and success pattern has been discussed by both of my colleagues already, has demonstrated for all time to all of us who are fans of UCLA that here is an example that we would all hope to begin to be able to follow. For those who do not know just how strongly I feel about UCLA, I would certainly want John Wooden to know this, my dog happens to be named Bruin. Having said that, over the years it has been my privilege to talk to any number of our alumni who have participated or worked with or been around John Wooden. He, indeed, has been an inspiration to literally thousands, as I have suggested. His dedication to our college, to the sport, is a reflection of the fact that his whole lifetime has been one of production for excellence. He and his wife symbolize the most fantastic of that which should be family life. Over the years, John Wooden demonstrated his early capability as a leader, becoming an All-American basketball player. As a basketball coach at UCLA, no one, but no one will ever attain his record again. He is an inspiration to all of us, as I have suggested. I might mention that in the 10 championships during his seasons at UCLA, UCLA won only 291 of those games and lost 10 during that string. During those years, my own children were youngsters, thinking about going away to college, and I was interested in having them take a look at UCLA. I will never forget my twin sons going with me on the very evening in Pauley Pavilion when they raised that 10th banner symbolizing the 10 seasons of excellence for Coach Wooden's career. It is a great privilege for me to be a small part of this resolution this evening, and I wish John Wooden Godspeed, and, indeed, the contribution he has made is a symbol for all of us to follow.

Mr. LEWIS of California

Mr. LEWIS of California. I yield to the gentleman from California.

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. My colleague, the gentlewoman from San Diego, California (Mrs. Davis), I appreciate her helping with this very important recognition of a group of our citizens that have given everything we could ask in order to protect our community. Many do not know that my district, which includes the San Bernardino National Forest, was as dramatically impacted by this fire as any in the country or any in California. The San Bernardino National Forest has been in desperate condition for some time, in no small part because of serious management problems we have experienced in recent years; also in no small part because of a series of years of serious drought that has allowed the ever-present bark beetle to kind of have its way with our forests. And presently there are literally millions of trees standing tall, but which are dead. It looks like fall time here in the East, but in our forests it is not fall at all. Instead the trees are yellow because they have died. Indeed, we cannot control that piece of nature; but on Saturday I had the occasion to travel with the Under Secretary who is responsible for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He is the Under Secretary with homeland defense responsibilities. As we flew over the forest, there were two things that were very obvious to both of us. The first was that where fire has effectively taken place, the erosion that is bound to take place as soon as the rains start to fall will be a tremendous challenge--to see the Earth move as a result of those rainfalls in the future. It is going to have a huge effect upon our ability to rebuild the forest. But the other factor that was a stark reality was that at least three-quarters of those trees we were so worried about which were standing dead are still standing. Many of those trees were not caught up in the fire, and they are indeed a fire looking for somewhere in the future to happen. Both the Under Secretary and I immediately saw the challenges that lie before us. Indeed, I would like to spend just a moment expressing my deep appreciation for a community that was ready, for they saw on the horizon this huge challenge that was facing the San Bernardino National Forest. The firefighters, the law enforcement officers, citizens from the community for months came together learning more and more about the challenge that lay ahead. The Lord gave us a fire about 6 weeks before this big one, and that fire caused us to recognize that it could really happen. In that case, we actually had some 600 people leave their homes in order to protect their own lives. Very quickly it became obvious that real fire, of a nature that we had not seen for perhaps 20 years, was about to take place. And so our people got ready. Community leaders in every city and town throughout the mountains recognized that we were in this together and their preparations saved many a life. There is little doubt that the combination of our firefighters, law enforcement officers, and those citizens themselves made all the difference. We are grateful for their recognizing this crisis and being ready to respond.